I hope everyone had a lovely weekend and got to spend some quality time with a special dad in your life, whether father, husband, grandfather or brother.
I appropriately celebrated the day with a relaxing 9-hole father-daughter round at the politically famed, "too tough for beginners" Andrews Air Force Base. We played the front nine of the West Course.
Some unique features:
- The full course is a par 73 for ladies and 70 for men -- we encountered three par 3s and one par 5
- The presence of the Air Force One hanger in the background
- The chance that Condi Rice will be in the group right behind you.
I definitely enjoyed it and luckily for both of us we didn’t keep score. My elderly father is just getting back in the game after having surgery on his shoulder and I’m still settling into my newly structured swing.
I was thrilled to finally see the fairways at Andrews since it’s essentially been my father’s home away from home for years. The day also highlighted one priceless benefit of playing the game: spending time with your father. For years weekends were spent shopping & lunching with my mother, while dad was off golfing, working in the yard or watching a tournament in TV. I finally have something I can share with him.
Did anyone else enjoy some Father’s Day golf activities (how convenient that the
US Open was the same day)?
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I made some slight adjustments to my possibly too political & rash post regarding Martha Burk & Augusta National. Just tiny revisions to more ... tastefully ... rationally ... accurately communicate my opinion.
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Since I was set on getting serious about the game I decided to start from scratch and invest in a proper swing. This spring I've been taking great lessons at the Every Body Golf School, in Oakton, Virginia.
My instructor Noel Jablonski truly adapts the instruction to fit the individual. Noel uses a variety of methods to effectively communicate the proper form, rhythm and ease required for a solid consistent swing. A Class-A member of the LPGA, she has been featured on Golf for Women's list of top instructors. The Washington Post also detailed her training program in From Zero to Tee in Ten Days.
If anyone is looking for some quality lessons in the Washington area Noel will successfully make you swing like a pro! ... Someone actually recognized my swing at a driving range in Pennsylvania!
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Apparently fairway fashions are continuing to become runway-savvy as Swedish clothier J. Lindeberg Women's Wear has launched a golf line! Canada's Globe & Mail published a very fun article reminiscing upon the evolution of women as an influential part of the golfing industry. 
The posh attire offered has the classic golfwear design with a soft feminine twist. Check it out at the women's section of their online store.
Very cute indeed! The brand also has a men's line and is working on putting out a golf shoe with Puma.
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I originally started this post back on May 26th but with all the resurfacing buzz about the issue of “equal treatment” of women on golf courses, particularly in the UK [read: the serious side or the op-ed piece], I’ve been motivated to finish this …
Late last night I was heading south on 95, returning home for the weekend. In an attempt to stay focused I decided to search for some 'talk' radio. The static hiss of the AM offerings was not cutting it, so I ended up listening to the CSPAN station on FM.
A prerecorded lecture by Martha Burk, at the National Press Club was just beginning. Certain tid-bits from the introduction told me I was not going to agree with most of what this woman would be saying, but I like to be aware of exactly what I don't agree with.
One issue in particular stood out. Martha Burk vs. Augusta National Golf Club.
In leading the fight against Augusta's men's-only policy, Burk has gone so far as to accuse corporate executives with Augusta memberships of being discriminatory employers! This spring Morgan Stanley paid out $46 million in a similar lawsuit.
Don't you enjoy spending time with your gal pals sans-men, Martha? What about the LPGA? I say Tiger tries to play an LPGA tournament. There are plenty of golf lessons designed for girls only, I’m certain there aren’t any boy-only unless offered at Augusta. Let the boys have their club, what is the problem or the intrigue? We have the right to go out and start some women-exclusive golf clubs. There's a resent plan to make an entire floor at the Marriott hotel women-only; I don't have an issue with that and I bet men don’t either ... until people like Martha Burk enter the picture.
It'd be one thing if every golf course was male-only, but that isn't the case at all. Being the graduate of all-girls school, where a single sex environment may allow some to excel more. Maybe that’s part of the men’s-only purpose. We're females, does Martha neglect to acknowledge the power we hold ... which might be distracting to some men in their pursuits of competition or relaxation?
A lot of the recent coverage has focused on the apparently flawed strategy to create equality at the club. Now the problem isn’t about women being allowed in. The issue is how we’re treated at the facility after some have fought our way in. Resentment maybe? ‘You girls want to be members of our club? Sure, we’ll let you in … just see how much you enjoy it.’ I'm more bothered by this problem though than an entire men's-only facility. If you're going to let us in, let us in. If you want to have some men's-only hours or lounges, then make some women's-only one's also. I do also automatically apply economic principles to this sticky situation. When the demand for fabulous women's facilities increases and there is a substantial profit to be made off the female golf base, then places will truly cater to our needs and tastes. You can't successfully force a market to do what you want. You want to see some legitimate changes? Keep bringing those clubs and pocketbooks to the golf course ladies.
Apparently I’m not alone since groups like Women Against Martha Burk spouted up. Thoughts anyone?
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