James Raia

James Raia has been writing about the Monterey Peninsula for more than 20 years. He's also editor and publisher of the web sites:
ByJamesRaia.com
GolfTribune.com
MontereyPeninsula.org
TheWeeklyDriver.com

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Articles by this Author

Big Sur Half-Marathon 2008 Date Set

By James Raia
Published 06/26/2008
Sporting Scene

The sixth annual Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay will be held Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008, attracting elite runners and recreational enthusiasts to compete in a variety of running/walking events over two days.

Four Cool Accommodation Options In Carmel-By-The-Sea

By James Raia
Published 06/6/2008
Hotel Reviews

Carmel is among the country's most popular small-city destinations. Quaint restaurants, art galleries, boutique shops, unique homes and famous golf courses are all backdropped by the Pacific Ocean. As such, Carmel has a steady influx of constant visitors who often fill the city’s nearly 1,000 guest rooms, particularly during popular global sporting events, festivals and conferences.

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Announces 2008 Festival Of Speed Schedule

By James Raia
Published 03/5/2008
Sporting Scene

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has the complete schedule for the Monterey Festival of Speed weekend, May 16-18.

Four different race series will participate in the weekend’s events including the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, the Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Series Powered by Mazda, Formula BMW Americas, and the latest addition to the schedule, Historic IMSA cars from the 1970s and 1980s.

Lowery Claims AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am; Singh Crumbles

By James Raia
Published 02/13/2008
Sporting Scene

Steve Lowery, the 47-year-old possessor of a scraggly goatee, protruding belly and a steady putter, is now also owner of his third PGA Tour title.

Lowery, whose last victory occurred eight seasons and 198 tournaments ago, rallied from a three-stroke, back-nine deficit Sunday to claim a one-stroke playoff victory over Vijay Singh at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Tour Of California, 2008 Route Set: Seaside Again Set To Host Stage

By James Raia
Published 12/18/2007
Sporting Scene

The 2008 Tour of California, scheduled Feb. 17-24, will visit 12 host cities for stage starts and finishes, including Palo Alto-Stanford University (new in 2008), Sausalito, Santa Rosa, Sacramento, Modesto (new in 2008), San Jose, Seaside, San Luis Obispo, Solvang, Santa Barbara, Santa Clarita and Pasadena (new in 2008).

The stage start in Seaside will mark the race third straight year on the Monterey Peninsula. In the race's inaugural year, the Monterey Peninsula stage began in Monterey, while this year and in 2008 the stage will depart from Seaside.

Tommy Armour III Wins Callawy Golf Pebble Beach Invitational

By James Raia
Published 11/18/2007
Sporting Scene

Tommy Armour III completed a tumultuous round with a two-foot birdie on the final hole en route to a 2-under 70 at Pebble and a two-stroke victory Sunday in the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational.

Armour, who began the fourth round with a one-shot lead over Ronnie Black, had a 16-under 272 in the 36th annual event that featured 81 pros from the four major tours. Black (68) and Rocco Mediate (67) finished tied at 274, with Ken Duke alone at 276.

Tommy Armour III Assumes Two-Stroke, Third-Round Margin at Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational

By James Raia
Published 11/17/2007
Sporting Scene

Tommy Armour III shot a 7-under 65 at Del Monte Golf Course and moved into a two-stroke lead Saturday over Nick Watney after three rounds of the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational.

Armour, a two-time PGA Tour tournament winner who finished 110th on the PGA Tour money list this season, has a 14-under 202 total.

Ronnie Black Takes Two-Stroke, Second Round Callaway Inviational Lead At Pebble Beach Golf Links

By James Raia
Published 11/17/2007
Sporting Scene

Ronnie Black, who last won on the PGA Tour more than 23 years ago, shot a 6-under 66 at Del Monte Golf Course and moved into a one-stroke lead Friday over Joel Kribel after two rounds of the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational.

Black, who claimed the Callaway event in 1995, has a 12-under 134 total in the uniquely formatted tournament that includes players from the four major tours as well as mini-tour players, club pros and amateurs.

Sutherland Takes Four-Stroke, First-Round Callaway Invitational Lead At Pebble Beach Golf Links

By James Raia
Published 11/15/2007
Sporting Scene

Kevin Sutherland shot a 10-under 62 and grabbed a four-stroke lead Thursday over Rocco Mediate and Joel Kribel after the first round of the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational.

Sutherland, the 2002 World Golf Championship titlist and runner-up this year at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, tallied eight birdies and an eagle at Del Monte Golf Course.

Carmel Lodge: Renovated, Convenient, Good Value Accommodations

By James Raia
Published 10/29/2007
Hotel Reviews

Carmel is among the country's most popular small-city destinations. Quaint restaurants, art galleries, boutique shops, unique homes, international conferences and famous golf courses are all backdropped by the Pacific Ocean. As a result, the city by the sea has a steady influx of global visitors. More than 900 rooms are available in 60-plus locations within a mile radius of the city's center.

So, while a visit to Carmel is a good choice for myriad reasons, it does present a dilemma: Where's the best place to stay? Logical choices, of course, vary depending on your reason for visiting the Monterey Peninsula — business to budget travel, a romantic getaway to golf. Carmel is not an inexpensive destination, but one location that provides covers a good cross-section of accommodations needs is Carmel Lodge.

Blogs by this Author

A Return Visit To Carmel Lodge

By James Raia
Published 11/26/2007

A couple of months ago, I spent three nights at the Carmel Lodge, just as it was making its transition from more than 50 years of family ownership to one of the five properties owned by Coastal Hotel ...

Taking The Time To See The Beauty Of San Luis Reservoir

By James Raia
Published 11/25/2007

While driving to the Monterey Peninsula or on return trips to Sacramento there never seems to be time to stop at San Luis Reservoir. It's located in hills of the western San Joaquin Valley near Pachec...

Scott Simpson: On Golf, Wine, Miracles And Christ

By James Raia
Published 09/5/2007

Scott Simpson is one of the nicest professional golfers I've met.Years ago, while working on a lengthy article for PGA Tour Partners magazine on players' faith, Simpson, among other golfers, talked fr...

English Ales Brewery: Marina's Oasis For All That Ales Ya On The Monterey Peninsula

By James Raia
Published 09/4/2007

English Ales Brewery has been around since 2000, but I've only discovered its great beer on several recent trips to the Monterey Peninsula.While staying in Carmel and Pacific Grove, I've frequented th...

A Cheers Bar (Brophy's Tavern) In Carmel-By-The-Sea

By James Raia
Published 06/29/2007

With the exception of when international events are in town, it's difficult to find something to eat on weeknights past 9-10 p.m. in Carmel.I was visiting the peninsula earlier this week and returned ...

Eating Organically At Earthbound Farm In Carmel

By James Raia
Published 05/24/2007

Through the years, I've driven past Earthbound Farm many times. But it wasn't until last Friday (May 18) when Myra and Drew Goodman, owners of country's largest organic farm, hosted a media luncheon, ...

(Vintage) Time Is Precious At Carmel's Fourtane Estate Jewelry

By James Raia
Published 05/18/2007

I've been fascinated by watches for years, and it's difficult to walk past a watch store without stopping to gawk at fine timepieces — at least for a few minutes. New watches are fine, but it's ...