One of my other extracurricular-activities brought me to the site Meetup.com. I immediately looked for a local golf “Meetup” and it’s a wonderful asset!
There are several other rookie-golferettes in the group who pro-actively suggest group outings to improve our game together. Many got turned onto golf by a man in their life, which is great, but some girls (like myself) would feel much more comfortable venturing on the course with a group of fellow new-girls rather than heading straight out with the husband and his buddies.
In my biased outlook on the sport, golf is typically considered a guys’ sport – and stereotypically guys play much more often.
If one were to poll people in their 20’s I’d predict more males than females play the sport, and play 18-holes more often.
So for some reason this notion subconsciously makes me assume if they play more than me, they must be really good! The feminist, perfectionist in me almost doesn’t want to pair up with the guys until my game is stellar. How stubborn and misinformed of me!
Maybe I’m alone in this, but either way I suggest every girl head to Meetup.com and look for her local golf group or create one. It’s a wonderful way to round up a bunch of golferettes to organize a fun outing with.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Wonderful Tool for Rookie-Women
A Second Wind
Well, I’m finally back! In addition to being scolded for blogging at work (eeekk!), that last month of summer was a killer. Life gets busy, and it’s a wonderful thing, but it requires a bit of readjusting.
I must confess golf got fully swept onto the back-burner but fall is here and so is my swing.
Monday, July 9, 2007
A Fairway Spectator
Yesterday I was lucky enough to make it to my first pro golf tournament, the AT&T National at Congressional.
I absolutely adored it! What an amazing sporting event golf is. Nothing else lets you walk the "field" with the pros and stand inches away as they play. Just being a spectator is a sport in it's own too. Navigating your way with course map in hand, hiking several miles throughout the day, and strategically planning in order to see all your favorites up close & at a good hole.
The morning was spent checking out some warm-ups on the driving range & putting green. Then relocating to the 10th hole - with a nice water hazard - until some of the leaders began tearing up the course.
My hometown friends and I decided to set-up right near the 8th green for Kresge & Davis. We held our position next to the green (+ a great view of the 9th tee) for Kim, Rose, Woods, and Furyk - four I wanted to see in action. Next we high-tailed it past 18, as Vijay finished, and finally parked ourselves along 17 until Choi & Appleby had passed.
Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post crafted a wonderful article after interviewing Tiger. I've attached some highlights from it below, so "Read more" and check it out. It really left me with a nice feeling, being from the Washington area.
Some personal highlights were:
- Choi's amazing birdie out of the bunker on 17.
- Tiger light-heartedly engaging the fans at the putting green as he struggled a bit with the warm up. Sort of a 'what can ya do?' shrug & smile. Can't get too upset over a difficult warm-up, being no. 1 in the world, on the final day hosting a wonderful event, with a beautiful family at home ...
- Finding humor in certain 'styles' on the course:
favorites being Charley Hoffman who somewhat resembled Garth from "Wayne's World" and Anthony Kim, with the big belt-buckle & slight thug-strut that made me wonder if someday we'll hear 50-Cent's "I'm A Hustler" playing as he approaches the next hole. - The little kids!
It is the cutest thing, whether yelling "Tiger!" or running along with
their dad after he just won the tournament. My favorite though was when the trophy ceremony was about to start. I'd decided to head for the shuttle and beat the rush. While heading up towards the clubhouse a very frustrated Stuart Appleby raced by, cutting up through the shrubs to the building, and you hear this little 3 year old (un-coached by mom or dad) recognize him & innocently say, "Hey, Mister Appleby!" There's no way you could stay agitated after hearing that!
I'm already excited to attend another tournament!! I'm now planning to venture up to New York for the HSBC Women's World Match later this month!
Copyright 2007 The Washington Post
All Rights Reserved
http://www.washingtonpost.com
The Washington Post
Monday, July 2, 2007
Cut That Putter!
This past weekend I was lucky enough to take a Dave Pelz 1-Day Golf Clinic, out at Wyncote Country Club in the Philadelphia-Wilmington area. The day focused on short-game skills. I initially had some reservations about participating since my short game has been not so hot lately (wait, isn't that what clinics are for?).
I hopped in the car early Saturday morning and headed out into the rolling green hills of historic Southeastern Pennsylvania. Surrounded by lovely vineyards and crisp summer air I was no longer upset that the clinic was an hour outside the city. After arriving at Wyncote I found myself seated amongst a group of professional-aged men. As I sat feeling groggy (I play better without any caffeine in my system) I listened to the discussion of courses and the latest golf tools technology has to offer ... in addition to numbers like 1, 3 and 10, which were the handicaps of my fellow students. Several others arrived, including two women and the lesson began.
The instructors were David LiCalsi and Anne Sparks and we spent the morning working on wedge shots, greenside chipping and bunker shots. I was happy to start off with the wedge shots, as the set-up, form and swing my lessons instilled in me was very applicable. After seeing fantastic results and being able to control the ball in a short range, I had my head on straight for the rest of the day! Working out of the bunker and greenside I actually appreciated the fact that my swing is new and mailable. Some of the veteran players had more difficulty adjusting their swing and set-up due to fixed habits and perceptions. Now I can't wait to get out on the course and find my ball in a sand trap next to the green!
After lunch we focused on putting. This session was really an eye opener but in a more technical way. First of all, most people's putters are way too long (I need to cut 4" off mine). The other putting skill presented was green reading. Dave Pelz is a man of science and to accurately understand a successful put based on the apex, science was referenced. The two instructors put on a little experiment to prove that one cannot sink a putt by simply aiming for the height of the apex! Mind-blowing ... some might even call it heresy!
The clinic taught me something else: golf is like a faith. There are many different ways of thinking and theories of swing/set-up, like there are many different religions. Many of these methods and beliefs contradict each other, but they all serve the same goal: better performance on the golf course.
I definitely recommend it to anyone willing to spend the money. Especially if you're a rookie. Better to form good habits early!
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Daddy's Little Golferette
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 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)?
Saturday, June 16, 2007
UPDATE: My Thoughts on the Augusta Issue
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.
Snagging a Savvy Swing
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!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Fairway Clash over Feminism & Golf
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?
Monday, May 21, 2007
When Life Gets in the Way of Golf
I've been away from the blog for what feels like a huge amount of time. What an inconsistent slacker. But life does manage to get in the way sometimes, particularly when other priorities arise, in addition to one's full-time, non-golf related career! I'm not quite ready to risk living in a cardboard box for the sake of golf just yet, especially with things such as student loans looming.
I haven't even had time to stop by the driving range on my way home from work in the past two weeks! How horrific?!
There should be plenty of posts and practice, now that I have my life & schedule back in order.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Slacker Blogger
Last weekend I moved to a new spot in the city. I absolutely adore it but as a result my schedule is swamped! Major blog neglect - all apologies.
I see the moment I left The Fairway Flapper sitting idle it actually acquired some readers! I'm stoked and will certainly keep the posts coming. Thanks for reading!!!
... and a very special kudos to Patricia at Golf Girl's Diary, who hosts an amazing blog - she is a genius (especially from a Marketing/PR standpoint) and has been my golferette-blog idol from the start! Check out the Fairway Flapper feature on her site,
Friday, April 20, 2007
For the Philly Female
Living in Philadelphia right now, I drove by a sign at a local course for GolfPhilly.com, and it's a pretty decent site for the public golf offerings in this city. Since spring has finally arrived I decided to go to the driving range as soon as I stepped out of the office!
I really wish there were more driving ranges. The ability to get off work and make a relaxing trip to the range would be amazing, but lately I find myself heading into rush hour traffic after I get home from work - who wants to do that???
(AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Philly does offer a centrally located one, in the Philadelphia Park System aka Fairmont Park; I'm just picky and hope for a golfing utopia with well manicured public driving ranges, located every 5 miles.
