Golfgal

Turnberry Ailsa - Where golf memories are made

2009-07-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

Claimed to be 'the finest links golf course in the world' by Colin Montgomery, Turnberry Ailsa finally returns to centre stage this week hosting the British Open for the 4th time since its "coming out party" in 1977. And what a coming out party it was.

I can't count the number of times I've watched footage of Tom Watson holing that 60 foot putt on the 16th hole to tie Jack Nicklaus, and then go on to beat the Golden Bear by 1 stroke and capture his 2nd Claret Jug (his first was at Carnoustie Golf Links in 1975).

That Duel in the Sun will be remembered forever, but what about Turnberry itself? Since I really didn't take up the game until a few years ago, I wasn't as familiar with Ailsa as I was with other, more resent, Open venues, so I decided I'd talk to my friend and colleague, David from the UK - a 14 handicapper who's played Ailsa twice. After hearing from him about the first time he set his eyes on that course, I feel like it's become a memory for me as well...

It was not long after the last British Open was held in Turnberry that David and his golf buddies (regional winners of a British Telecom golf competition) set off to play the Ailsa course with some pretty high stakes - they were one of 40 teams vying for 6 spots to play the finals in Sotogrande Spain, all expenses paid.

They arrived to find themselves in in what David calls "golfing majesty". Not a stranger to playing other famous Open venues (he has played Hoylake, St Andrews Old Course and Royal Birkdale), David described his feelings at Turnberry as being "in awe". Not only was the hotel a 5 star treasure, the course was in fantastic condition, with breathtaking vista views.

Perhaps it was that sense of wonder that that caused him to perform 'awe-fully' on the practice range before his round. What made it even worse was that he had an audience behind him - European PGA tour pro Malcolm Gregson was standing there watching and couldn't help but speak up as David headed to the first tee with these words of comfort, "It's going to be a long hard day for you today if you are going to hit the ball like that." Gee, thanks Malcolm!

Well, despite Mr. Gregson's less than encouraging send off, David had one of those wonderful experiences where he woke up on the first tee and drove his ball straight down the fairway, delighting himself, his team mates and especially his caddie who watched him duff shot after shot on the warm up tee, thinking it was going to be the longest day of his life. A short iron into the green and suddenly life was very very good.

They had a marvelous day, despite the steading downpour of rain. And when they reached the 9th hole, they were ready for the much-talked-about views of Ailsa Craig - a volcanic rock that rises over 1,000 feet from the middle of the Firth of Clyde.

At this point, David's caddie stepped up to give his little speech, "If you can see Ailsa Craig, it's about to rain; if you can't see it, it's already raining." I wonder how many times he's said that over the years ;)

Anyway, no amount of squinting, could bring Ailsa Craig into view for the team so they sadly moved on to the 10th tee.

Now, the 10th hole has changed quite a bit since David played. The redesign was intended to bring the coastline further into play and create more of a risk/reward shot for players looking to cut off the corner of the fairway.

Today it requires at least a 200-yard carry off the tee. I sure hope that was from the tips or I'd be packing my bags for home by now.

Some say this stretch of holes 8 through 10 is Scotland's Pebble Beach, but with its spectacular untamed landscapes untouched by civilization, and its romantic history, I'd say Turnberry has it one up on the home of the 2010 US Open. But of course, I haven't played either, so I better hold my judgement until I can compare them first hand. Let me just make sure they are both on my bucket list.

Regardless of the many lost balls in knee high rough and having to slog their way through the links, the team was doing pretty well until the 17th, where David described his performance as very 'keystone cop-like', "I jammily escaped the bunker on the hillock 100 yards short right of the green only to find it lodged above the bunker leaving me an impossible stance. My clumsy swing at it only succeeded in dislodging it so that it ran back into the bunker swiftly followed by yours truly and my clubs." Oh how I wish I had a picture of that!

Regardless of the "cock-up" at 17, David's team was quite excited dripping their way into the clubhouse with a final score of 91. Now in the Stableford (best 2 ball) format they were playing, that was a pretty good score and they were fairly confident they would be in the top 6. But the magic of Turnberry seemed to be focused on a different foursome that day who carded an incredible 102. Commentator, Peter Alliss, who was giving the after-dinner speech, was quite nonchalant about the score saying, "Look, it's not that difficult to do this. All you need to take is 4 single handicap golfers and play them as 18, 19, 20 and 21 and your job is done!" Haha...say no more - say no more!

Almost twenty years later, David still vividly remembers the course, the views, the clubhouse, the hotel and every shot. He's played Turnberry since that eventful day, but the memories of his first time on Scotland's coastal wonder have burned themselves into his brain and his heart. I guess what they say is true, "It's never quite as good as the first time."

I can't wait to experience for myself one of Scotland's golfing treasures for the first time. And they do say, 3's a charm, so... Haste Ye Back, David, and I'll meet you at the first tee!

Golfgal

Live Vicariously through Tom Coyne's Golfing Adventure: A Course Called Ireland

2009-07-09T13:30:00.000-07:00

Every now and then you come across a book that touches you in a way you didn't expect. Recently, I was introduced to a book about golfing in Ireland and thought to myself..."Okay, my grandfather was from Ireland. I just finished a series of posts about PEI, to where many Irish people emigrated. I haven't been to Ireland yet, so...it might be worth quick perusal."

So one night before bed, I cracked open the cover and started to read, expecting it to lull me to sleep in a few minutes. I was wrong.

Here's how the book started...

"The dog was going to be a problem.

I had already faced off against a gang of galloping livestock, gone toe to hoof with a mountain goat, and narrowly escaped the nip of a mother swan. I had climbed my way out of sandy pits and thorny ditches, scrambled up stone walls, splashed my way through deep and icy waters. I had felt speeding cars brush the hair on my knuckles. I had lowered my chin into a month-long rain, peeled the blisters off my blisters, watched my feet turn to piles of soggy porridge. I had chafed. Over the last four months, I had encountered quick and flying fists, smelled the sour breath of a hundred lost men, fought my damndest not to become one of them. I took on the British Army. I dodged the police. And I felt the despair of every man who ever chose to walk alone, then found himself dreaming he could go back and choose differently.

But with just a few hours to go, and just a few paces left on my journey, I met a growl in the middle of a quiet country road, and it sounded just like the last thing a person might ever hear.

The dog was tall as a Harley with paws the size of pancakes. His skin was taut and caked in mud as if he'd been resurrected from a bog, and a winding scar cut up his face like a map. A redness leaked from his eyes, and in his stare I recognized a disquieting certainty about how the next few minutes were going to proceed. This wasn't an animal I was looking at, I told myself. This was an inevitability."

Now THAT didn't sound like a boring golf travelogue to me, so I kept reading, and reading and reading for more than 2 hours to discover that "A Course Called Ireland: A Long Walk in Search of a Country, a Pint and the Next Tee” is a delight!

So much more than a book about golfing in Ireland, A Course Called Ireland is an adventure story of a man (many thought was crazy) who embarks on a quest to walk and play the longest golf course in the world - that course being the entire perimeter of Ireland, ending in Ballybunion.

Over a 4 month period, author Tom Coyne walked over 1,000 miles and played 990 holes (par 3,895) of links golf on 56 courses. The adventures, or should I say misadventures, he and his golf buddies encounter along his journey are hilarious; the people he meets, unforgettable; and the golf courses he describes make you want to grab your clubs and catch next plane to the Emerald Isle.

The book is a great read made all the more entertaining by Coyne's captivating writing style which makes you feel like you are on the journey with him. Tom is a wonderfully entertaining storyteller.

As you can tell...I loved this book. Every night I would read a few holes (that's a clever way Tom divides up the chapters) and I don't think there was one evening when I didn't elbow my husband, while laughing out loud, saying, "Hey, listen to this!", and then proceeded to read out loud a funny anecdote or phrase.

By the end of the book, I had dog-eared more pages and highlighted more quotable quotes than I could count.

This is definitely NOT a book I can regift...Haha...but I wouldn't want to. This is a book I will reference again and again. And if I ever get a chance to visit Ireland, it will be my bible of where to play and what to bring with me.

After reading A Course Called Ireland I just had to talk to Tom about walking where no man had walked before....

I won't ruin the book for you by giving away any more excerpts, but I can tell you that when Tom writes about a golf course, it's not the typical hole by hole description you'd normally see on blogs like mine. I learned something about writing course reviews from Tom - Don't tell people about the holes, yardages and hazards - make them feel the wind on your face, the wonder of the landscape and the fears, frustrations and fun that they can expect to feel when they play the course.

If you are still wondering what motivated Tom to take on such a brutally difficult challenge, check out this podcast on Smarter Golf.

Then go out and buy A Course Called Ireland. And from the warm and safe comfort of your bedroom or study, live vicariously through Tom's journey, complete with 38 days of horrid rain, man-eating canines, full Irish breakfasts that could convert most carnivores into vegetarians, blisters on blisters, traffic nightmares and the wild and wonderful golf courses he played along the way.

A word crops up from time to time in Tom's book...'Craic' (pronounced 'crack'), which means "fun, enjoyment, abandonment, or lighthearted mischief". I guess that really sums up Tom Coyne's adventure and his book - it's just great craic!

Golfgal

Big Break PEI Finale: Gillespie Grabs the Gold!

2009-06-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

Wow! $100,000 for 14 days work!

Hard work, mind you, and definitely work that required years of training and practice, but still...that's a lot of do re me! And in US $ too!

Congratulations Derek!!!!

It almost feels like a first place purse at a PGA Tournament - NOT! Need at least 1 more zero to come close to that. :)

But something tells me that Derek is going to hit the big leagues very soon. This is just a taste of what is to come. He's got game, he's got guts and now he's got the gold!

It seems like only yesterday that I talked to Derek before Big Break PEI even aired, for a "20 questions" interview for Inside Golf Magazine. Being the only Canadian, I thought it would be cool to let Canadian IG readers know about the only Canuck in the mix. Little did I know that he would go home the champion. I'll say it again...Well done Derek!

Last week after watching Blair play the first 9, I started to believe it was anyone's championship. And then after Blair's amazing birdie on the 10th hole, I think more than a few people were wondering if it was time for the underdog to win. But as Blair said...she played her best, but it wasn't quite good enough. Derek played better. Derek deserved to win.

But Blair never gave up - her putt on 12 showed that. As Stina said, Blair had nerves of steel after 3 putting the previous green. It was so great to see her battle to the very end. Her composure was amazing.

Before we get into the interviews this week, I want to share with you my three part series on Rodd Mill River, home of Big Break PEI. I had such a wonderful time playing there and after seeing the contestants play the 18 holes over two weeks, I felt like I had walked the fairways with them. I hope you enjoy them and give PEI and its 30 golf courses a try for yourselves. It is a golfer's playground...

Golfgal's Excellent Big Break PEI Adventure - The Resort
Golfgal's Excellent Big Break PEI Adventure - Mill River Golf Course - Front Nine
Golfgal's Excellent Big Break PEI Adventure - Mill River Golf Course - Back Nine

I started tonight with Michael Michaelides from Big Break X. He had some very interesting comments about playing it safe versus playing it smart when I asked him about Blair's remarks on 15...

Next up was Brian. He gave me some insights into that day and the players, but mostly he left me with a better understand of what it means to be a big breaker, what he learned from the experience, what he would do differently if given the chance again, and how much he cares for the people he came to know over the 2 weeks.

Brian may have appeared to be "The Villian", but he is actually a big softie with a big heart. I hope he does well in his chosen career as a pro golfer. His website BrianSkatellgolf.com should be live soon - be sure to check back for that.

Well, the man of the hour had a busy night being on a live chat session with the Golf Channel. They said it was supposed to be half an hour, but it's almost 2 hrs later and Derek's still there answering questions. That's impressive. But what really impressed me was that he still made time for our weekly interview. Money hasn't gone to this champ's head...

Wow, pretty cool about the Nationwide event and that sponsor exemption from Mr. 99 himself. Very very cool!

Caught up with Blair today - my what a busy woman she is! She may not have won the $100K, but something tells me Blair is about to find her own big break as a result of her strong performance on the show...

I hope Blair enjoys her week at the 5 star Rodd Crowbush Golf and Beach Resort. With all the events and travel she's been doing, I bet she'll need the rest and that's a great place to relax and enjoy 5 star pampering. I just finished up my article on that golf course/resort and will publish it later in July. The Links at Crowbush is a "must try" experience - it looks like it was plucked straight out of Ireland.

Well, it's time to say goodbye. I want to thank all the contestants who took the time to chat each week with me. What a great bunch of people! I can't wait to do it again for Big Break 12. I think it's time for another reunion don't you?

In closing, a big congratulations goes out again to Derek! And Brian shared in his interview, "The right person won."

Golfgal

Swinging at Sahalee - Home of the 2010 Senior Men’s US Open Golf Championship

2009-06-23T12:36:00.000-07:00

In 1998, Sahalee Golf and Country Club was the host of 80th PGA Championship, where Vijay Singh won his first major championship. The players must have loved the course because it was scheduled to host that major again in 2010. Unfortunately the honor was snatched from Sahalee by the PGA when it sited corporate conflict with the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010 as a potential risk for the tournament. The PGA moved the major to Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. How short sighted! Thank goodness, the USGA has more vision.

In 2010, Sahalee will host the 31st Senior Men’s US Open, July 26 – Aug 1, 2010, bringing an estimated $30M to the region. I recently attended the 2010 U.S. Senior Open Press Conference & Golf Outing at Sahalee where Tim Flaherty, Director of U.S. Senior Open & U.S. Amateur Championships, and the Sahalee Management outlined the plans for the event.

It was worth the 3 hour drive for two reasons:

I was able to get the inside scoop on the event and a very special offer being made by USGA that will make you sit up and take notice.

I had the pleasure of playing one of the best golf courses in all of Washington State.

What a great day I had! I can’t wait for next year’s major. More than 125,000 golf fans are expected to attend the U.S. Senior Open next year; I’ll be among them. I published a 2 part article to share with you and the Inside Golf Magazine readers my enthusiasm:

· Part 1: USGA Can see the forest for the trees - PGA NOT!
· Part 2: Swinging at Sahalee – Golfgal’s golf course review

And here’s the “never before offered deal” from the USGA: For those spectators who buy their tickets online or by phone (877-218-OPEN) before the end of June 2009, they will be guaranteed entry into the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

So…why is this a great deal? Well, because, the USGA sells US Open tickets by lottery and have sold out every year for the past 23 years. The chances of getting tickets to the 2015 major at Chambers Bay are slim if you go the lottery route, but by buying tickets to the Senior Open now, you are guaranteed advance opportunity to purchase Chambers Bay US Open tickets before the lottery is held.

I already have my tickets – only 1 week left for you to get in on this great deal.

Sahalee Golf Course is majestic. You almost feel like you’re in Mother Nature’s cathedral. It’s one of the quietest and most beautiful courses I’ve ever played. It is most definitely High Heavenly Ground.

I can’t wait to see my favorite Champions like Freddie Couples play it next year!

Golfgal

Big Break PEI Episode 10 - Bye Bye Brenda

2009-06-22T17:22:00.000-07:00

Well, tonight we bid a fond, but sad farewell to a talented and very entertaining contestant on Big Break PEI -- Brenda "Sorry Mommy and Daddy" McLarnon.

I have enjoyed watching Brenda hit some clutch shots throughout the series to save herself from elmination and thought that tonight, right until the last hole when she was only down by 1, that she just might do it again. But such was not the case.

Brenda is the first one to admit that her game wasn't on par that sunny day on PEI and that nerves played a big part in her coming up short. But she is a real trooper and her disappointment watching tonight's episode didn't get in the way of her being gracious as always with me - one again, Brenda was the first one ready for our weekly interviews right after the show...

Thanks Brenda for making me laugh so much every week. I'll miss our chats, but I hope you'll join me next week for a closing interview about the final show and add some levity to what should be a very serious match of skills and wills.

I had a chance to catch Derek tonight as he landed in Calgary. He didn't get to watch the episode, but he remembered it well. He particularly remembered the 7th hole - the signature 417 par 4 that is not only beautiful...but deadly!

Speaking of the Rodd Mill River Golf Course, Part One of my article on the Big Break PEI venue was published on Inside Golf today. I did quite a long review of that resort and golf course (hmmm...maybe a tad too long ;)), so my editor has split it into three parts - the first today, the next part on Wed and the final part next Monday just before the final show. I'll be sure to share 3 links in next week's post so you can walk with me through the same holes the BB'ers travelled.

Here's a shot of the signature par 4 7th.

Next up, Michael Michaelides from Big Break X. Michael had some great commentary on the show and gave me some insights on how tee positions are set up for men and women in college (NCAA), the LPGA and the PGA. Some people think the men and women should be hitting from the same tee box when competing with each other. Listen to what Michael thinks of that...

Haha...thanks Michael! Well, you definitely sold me!

Road warrior Blair O'Neal joined me today to talk about the show, although in her busy travels she hasn't had a chance to see it. However, I had no doubt that friends and family were txting her like crazy over the episode and she probably got the whole picture from them.

Well, only 1 more episode and then we get to watch someone walk away with 100 grand in their pockets! Wow...that number looks bigger all the time, doesn't it? I can't wait to see how Blair and Derek manage their games next week after their amazing demonstations today. Will the pressure get to either of them as it did with Brenda today?

I think Brenda put it beautifully when she said tonight, "Giggle golf is over." Yup... I don't see anyone laughing next week, unless it's all the way to the bank!

Golfgal

Our Great Escape to Grayhawk Golf Club's Raptor Course

2009-06-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

It was April Fools Day 2009 and Mother Nature was playing a cruel joke on me. I woke up, looked out the window and there it was – snow! Yes, snow… in April! Arg!!! At first I thought, “Okay, I’ll just go back to bed and maybe when I wake up, it will all be gone.” But then I got an even better idea. I turned to my husband and announced, “We’re going to the driest and warmest place I know on this planet. Pack your sunscreen, we’re heading to Arizona!”

I’m not usually quite that spontaneous, but I’d had enough of trying to play golf in conditions that required long underwear, ear muffs and duck boots. No more digging out plugged balls for me! I needed heat! So after some research (AKA, chatting with golf forum buddies), we chose 4 great courses to play – the most highly rated of those being Grayhawk.

Two weeks later, we arrived in Phoenix to a bit of a wind storm and cooler temperatures than I would have predicted, but I didn’t care. It was dry, the forecast was looking good and we were about to play at the home of the Frys.com Open - Grayhawk's Raptor.

A Tom Fazio design, The Raptor, is an immaculate golf course that is fair, but challenging, for players of all skill levels. The conditions of the fairways and greens were some of the best I’ve ever seen, and when you’re not looking down at your next shot, look up – the McDowell Mountains make a stunning backdrop.

We started the day with a delicious lunch on the spacious Quill Creek’s patio, with gorgeous views of the 18th hole. While waiting for our food, I took a quick peek at the rest of the clubhouse facilities. I started with the women’s lounge. It was better than most I’d seen so far in my travels, with lockers and a shower area. In fact, I was quite impressed when I first saw it, but laughed at loud when I got a gander of the massive men’s locker room on the Gary McCord video tour on Grayhawk’s website, complete with attendant. Next to the men’s lounge, the women’s looks like a closet. Haha! Oh well…you can’t have it all I guess.

After lunch, we headed over to the impressive practice area near the Talon course and were surprised to be greeted with very loud rock n’ roll blasting out of speakers camouflaged as rocks behind the tee boxes on the range. At first, I found this really annoying, but after a while, I got into the rhythm of it and found myself relaxing, swinging and humming to my favorite classic rock tunes.

The range itself was large and very well maintained, with an endless supply of practice balls at each tee. I loved the short game area, with its very large practice green and lots of room for pitching/chipping and sand practice. It was not a surprise to me to read that the Grayhawk Learning Center was rated the #2 golf school in the US by Golf Magazine.

Something I also noticed while warming up was the number of young men with headsets and microphones, driving around in golf carts, checking clipboards, chatting with starters and scurrying people off to their tees. I lost count, but there were a lot!

Lucky for us, one of them noticed we looked “ready” before our tee time and bumped us up, without us even asking. He then escorted us to the starter who provided all the tips, tools and trinkets one might need on course, like tees, towels and ball repair tools. The only thing missing – GPS on the carts. I really could have used some “tips” from the tees. They do give you a card which lays out all the holes with yardages, but I am not one to pull those out standing in the middle of the fairway before my next shot (I’d have to pull out my reading glasses and that would be such a pain). So, we used our range finder quite a bit on this course.

Anyway, on to the course and two holes I'll replay in my head for many years to come...

One of the most picturesque holes on the front 9 is the par 3 eighth (Aces & Eights). It’s not a long hole (131-17 yards, depending on your tee choice), but it’s not a guaranteed par by any means. There is a wash area in the front of the green, which is protected by some pretty tricky bunkers.

The green is almost bowl-like, and depending on the pin placement, it could have been an easy birdie putt….or not. Today, with our front left pin, it was an “or not”. ;)
The 15th hole is one of a few risk/reward holes on the course. Not only is it a short par 4, the green is downhill from the tee and a great drive can leave a short approach shot. But don’t get too cocky on this one. Wait until you get to the two tiered green and try putting that in two when you and the pin are on different levels.

Grayhawk Raptor is a gorgeous golf course. The conditions of the fairways and greens were some of the best I’ve ever seen, and when you’re not looking down at your next shot, look up – the McDowell Mountains make a stunning backdrop.

My husband and I were laughing at one point because even the tee boxes were pristine. But watch out for the deep and strategically placed bunkers on this course – they can gobble balls no matter what tee box you choose ;). The greens were beautifully groomed, rolled well and had lots of undulations to keep you guessing on your line. I never could quite figure out the breaks.

When we returned home, I turned on the Golf Channel and discovered Gary McCord doing a Playing Lessons from the Pros on Grayhawk’s Talon Course. I wish now I had stayed an extra day to play that course as well. It looked to be in as great shape as Raptor and I’ve heard that it plays a bit easier (always a good thing in my books). Oh well, I guess another Arizona golf escape (or 2 or 3...) is in my future.

Golfgal

*Photos of Grayhawk courtesy of Lonna Tucker.

Big Break PEI Episode 9: Gerina's Not just Anybody

2009-06-15T17:28:00.001-07:00

At one point during tonight's show, Gerina was quoted as saying, "It's anybody's game." And she was right.

But unfortunately, Gerina wasn't anybody tonight.

Tonight's episode saw some typical Gerina shots - smoking drives we've come to expect from this long bomber. But then we witnessed the unexpected - a 147 yard shot into a greenside bunker that was instrumental in her heading into elimination with Derek. Where did that come from?

It was an emotional show from start to finish with good friends having to compete for immunity (and $1,000 cash). Did you notice? No one was smiling tonight, except maybe Blair, who appeared to be playing a different game than the rest of them. Her solid play made me think that maybe she was still feeling the confidence boost from that 40 foot putt she had against Aaron in last week's show. Whatever it was, I'd like to order two lbs of it please!

I had a chance to chat with Brenda tonight who found the show difficult to watch. Reliving that day was not a lot of fun for her, but Brenda is a real trooper and shared her thoughts about her competition with her good friend and how long it took to finally finish off that very difficult challenge (in more ways than one).

I also had a chance to talk with Michael Michealides, who was at Bethpage this week. He gave me some insights on Derek's tee shots and what was probably going wrong with them. It was also interesting to here about his trip to the US Open venue with some of his "kids".

They say that anything can happen in golf and certainly we saw that with the two arguably strongest players in the field heading into elimination. I caught up with Derek today to ask him about that whole day and how he was able to comeback after some pretty errant tee shots.

Here's a picture of hole #7 that Derek and I talked about - it's very cool - lots of different ways to play it - but all tricky!

Later this week, I will post a link to my article from Inside Golf Magazine about my recent trip to Rodd Mill River where I had the most amazing time playing the Big Break PEI course and enjoying the wonderful hospitality of the Rodd Mill River Resort team.

I was fortunate to catch up with Gerina this AM as she was driving to Ohio for the Duramed Championship. Great to hear her speak so positively about her future...

Gerina may have been eliminated this week from Big Break PEI, but she won't be easily forgotten. As the Golf Channel said in her bio, Gerina has a ton of talent and she will be somebody to watch for a very long time. I look forward to the day I can say, "Hey! I know that LPGA champion!" You go girl!

Just got off the phone with Blair, who's having a very hectic week: first at the Women's US Open qualifier with playing partner Michelle Wie (and some extra shhhh guests she wasn't expecting). Now she's in NY for the Men's US Open and then on to the Duramed Championship in Ohio.

Youth - Wow! They're like energizer bunnies!

It will certainly be an interesting episode next week as the "thorn between two roses" or is it the other way around :) battles for male supremacy. Blair won't roll over that's for sure, and something tells me that Brenda will want to avenge her friend's elimination this week. I can't wait!

Golfgal

Big Break PEI Episode 8: Aaron fights to the finish

2009-06-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

But the question I have is, "Who was he fighting? - The other players or himself?"

Tonight while watching the Big Break PEI, I was really shocked to hear Aaron call himself a "coward" when his chip shot came up short in his playoff against Derek.

As an ex-Marine who is both physically and mentally strong, hearing him say that word really threw me. It's like that "S" word in golf - shhh...you never say it. And likewise, Marines don't call themselves the "C" word, right?

And let's not forget that at the 1992 U.S. Junior Amateur, Wright played against Tiger Woods. If that doesn't make you strong, I'm not sure what would!

I mentioned it to my husband and said,"How can someone who's been a Marine, lose his mental strength over a golf shot?" My husband had a very perceptive answer. He said, "Aaron didn't lose his mental strength; he just turned it against himself."

Hmmm...now that really made me think. How does one become mentally strong on the golf course and keep that strength focused on the target?

I decided to ask Gerina, who appears to have a lot of mental strength, grinding it out even when she was very sick with the cold/flu during the last half of the Big Break PEI filming...

I then had to ask Brenda if she was fed up hearing things like "Luck of the Irish" and "Oh, she extracted the rabbit from the hat on that one." When were people going to recognize that this woman can play golf? Okay okay...that first chunk and run was a bit lucky, but those putts weren't.

Tonight I also caught up with Derek in Ian Poulter Pink" pants to find out what he thought of his Brenda and Aaron matches. No cakewalk this week! I also wondered if he's enjoying being the "Charlie" to the 3 Angels he's left with going into next week. Well, he said in his bio that he loved Beer, Food and Women. I heard from Brenda that they wine and dine you at Rodd Mill River, so it looks like he got everything he wanted on this show ;)

Sorry I won't have any other interviews this week because I'm off to PEI first thing in the morning and will be playing the Rodd Miller River golf course on Wed. I am so excited to see and play the holes where all the challenges were played on the Big Break PEI.

Stay tuned for my posts on that experience and the other courses I'll be playing while I'm there (Dundarave Golf Course & Links at Crowbush Cove). I keep hearing that PEI's a golfer's paradise in the summer on PEI - I can't wait to experience it for myself.

Golfgal

Golf's Real Heroes are not on Tour

2009-06-07T07:54:00.000-07:00

So often we put on pedestals people we've never met - people we only read about or see on TV - people who'd probably never even tip their hats if they passed us on the street.

Then we casually take for the granted the people who know us, love us anyway, teach us, and leave an indelible mark on our lives that we probably don't even know is there.

I am notoriously bad for this, so when I heard about a man who loved, mentored and touched the lives of his country, family and friends, and was honored by those who loved him in a very special way, I had to share it.

Theodore Adams was born in 1918, growing up in a large family of 14 children during the depression. He exemplified the characteristics of what Tom Brokaw coined The Greatest Generation.

He became a U.S. Marine in World War II, battle tested in the jungles of Guadalcanal and the black sands of Iwo Jima. Although he was proud to be a US Marine, he was never boastful; few people knew of his military service. However, his children were well aware their dad was a war hero because he never failed to sing Marine Corps Hymns while working in the backyard.

An ever faithful husband and father, he faced the pain of losing his first child at 6 months of age, and horrific accidents faced by his other children that would cause most parents to curse God. But not Ted...a man committed to his faith in GOD, he was "Semper Fi" (Latin for "Always Faithful").

A sports fanatic, Ted loved to watch and play sports, especially with his children. At 70 he was still in great shape and could keep up with the best of them.

He was a member of Pennsauken Country Club in NJ for over 35 years, shot 5 holes in one, and passed on his love of golf to his children and grandchildren.

Ted Adams died on May 20, 2009.

In honor of the man who touched so many lives, his grandson, Ray Carey, decided there needed to be a farewell to his "Pops" that would truly honor him. He decided that a 21 Golf Salute would be appropriate for a veteran who loved the game of golf.

So Ray gathered together 10 of his Pop's 11 children, 2 of his brothers, cousins and spouses and lined them up in 3 rows of 7 on the first tee of Pennsauken Country Club.

The 3 groups teed it up to drive 21 golf balls down the fairway in unison to say a sad goodbye to a man who was the epitome of Semper Fi. Hearing about it brought chills down my spine.

I wanted to talk to someone who had actually witnessed this remarkable tribute. So I called Quentin Griffith, III, PGA Golf Professional at Pennsauken Country Club. After speaking with Quentin, my chills turned into a big lump in my throat...

"After 29 years at Pennsauken Country Club, I thought I’d seen it all," said Griffith. "But this was a first for me. As luck would have it, the timing of the request couldn’t have been more perfect; there just happened to be an empty tee time available, so we decided to give it a whirl. Within 20 minutes of the initial request, we had 21 of Ted's family and friends on the first tee in groups of 7 hitting the 21 shot salute. It was perfectly scripted and amazing to watch - truly unique."

Ted Adams was a man who gave and rarely took - a man who loved God, loved life, loved his family, loved his country, loved his friends and loved golf.

His family said goodbye in a way they will always remember. I expect it would have embarrassed this humble man, but I bet it would also have brought tears to his eyes to know how much he was loved. I know it did mine.

Big Break PEI Episode 7: Eugene All Talked Out

2009-06-01T19:55:00.000-07:00

So were you as surprised at the ending tonight as I was? I was sure from the sound of Gerina's voice during her interview that she was eliminated from Big Break PEI.

Not that Gerina was expected to lose by any means - even Stina said that Gerina and Derek were "the last two people you'd want to meet in elimination", but Gerina sounded "all choked up" on camera.

But after the show was over, I remembered her telling me last week how sick she got during the taping. So Gerina's voice was a result of a physical ailment, whereas Eugene was racked with a voice that drove him out of Big Break PEI. I think there are times when Eugene needs a muzzle, just to save himself.

I know that Eugene is loved by all the contestants and they were sorry to see him go. Even Brian said that if you didn't like Eugene, then there must be something wrong with you. I am sure Eugene is a great guy and I can see why everyone loves him, but if I was on Big Break PEI with Eugene and in an elimination challenge, I know his negative self-talk would have rubbed off badly on me. It would appear that Derek just got down to business and didn't let Eugene get to him, but something tells me that Gerina was feeling the residual effects of "You suck!" comments.

Anyway, let's hear what everyone else thought...

Brenda was driving from Chicago tonight and didn't get a chance to see the show, but she remembered the day well...

I was lucky to catch up with Brian and get his analysis of the show; remember Brian was eliminated last week from Big Break PEI, so this is the first time he was able to see what happened the day after his "E-day".

Michael Michaelides from Big Break X is off to Fort Worth for a long drive competition this week, but before he left, he shared his thoughts on the show and how he deals with negativity with the young golfers he coaches at Long Island University....

Hmmm, sounds like we could all use a little of Pia Nilsson's Vision 54's magic.

Well, Derek "The best player yet to win his PGA card" Gillespie sure had a target on his back last night after 3 straight immunities and a breakfast "roast" with the other contestants. Wonder how he liked his first "real day on the job" :)

.

Blair joined me today to talk about her head-to-head match with Gerina, her course management faux pas and the painful elimination of Eugene from Big Break PEI.

Caught up with Gerina after her workout this afternoon. I wish I had the discipline of these athletes. :) I really wanted to know what she was feeling that day, starting so strong, almost winning $2K and suddenly facing elimination...

Well, next week I'm off to PEI to play the Rodd Mill River course. Whoohoo! I can't wait! I'll be sure to take a ton of pictures and video so I can give you an inside look at the resort and the course in warmer weather ;)

Golfgal

Big Break PEI Episode 6: Brian's Sad Song

2009-05-25T17:15:00.001-07:00

Well, Big Break PEI fans, you might hate him...

You might love him...

You might even want to take him under your wing and mother him...

But the one thing you will never do is...

Forget him.

Brian Skatell is an unforgettable Big Breaker that brought laughter to our lips, explictives from our mouths, and tears to our eyes during his 'oh so memorable' adventures on Big Break PEI.

Brian was the guy you loved to hate (until you got to know him)....the guy you couldn't believe said the things he said (until you understood the context of his outbursts)...the guy, who against all odds, lasted through, not just numerous Big Break eliminations, but enormous life challenges.

Brian is one of a kind. I, for one, am very sorry to say goodbye to him on this show. He brought fun, frustration and fanatical frenzy to BB PEI that you couldn't buy on eBay. I am sorry he is gone...

But now it's time to hear what the other contestants had to say...

Our numbers are dwindling on this series of interviews, but I guess that's what happens when our interviewees leave the stage. Sigh...

But there are a few of us left, who have opinions ;)

Let's start with the man who, just last week, said he'd had enough of Brian, Michael Michaelides from Big Break X..

Good analysis of Aaron's 13th hole. Lucky for him, his course management didn't catch up to him yet.

Next up, our ever bubbly Irish lass, who always brings a smile to my face, Brenda...

As Brenda said, she was a bit quiet on this week's episode. Last week with Nicole probably tired her out a bit ;) But something tells me we'll be chuckling again over more of Brenda's quips soon.

Now let's hear form the man who probably hit the most incredible shot I've ever seen on any Big Break...

After spending a great day at Seymour Golf Club watching Big Breakers Christina Lecuyer, Courtney Erdman, Susan Choi and Amber Prange, and Highway 18 winner Charlotte Campbell, tee off for the finals of the first CN Canadian Women's Tour in Vancouver, BC, I am back to work on my interviews.

Caught up with Gerina Wed AM, who shared more on the off-camera teasing that went on after Derek's shot and a little on "life after Brian"...

Brian has had a crazy week, but took time out of his hectic schedule this week to chat with me.

Oh, BTW...Brian mentioned that Aaron and he played #18 three times. They both parred the hole twice before Brian, "misread my STUPID range finder at 168 yd when I was really 148 to the pin". Poor Brian - not his day...

I am very pleased that Brian will continue with the weekly interviews. I know many people like me will be dying to know what he's going to say next!

Golfgal

Play Golf Designs is ALL about golf

2009-05-24T09:15:00.000-07:00

Recently Time.com published a story about Play Golf Design titled: Lady Golfers for Rent: Escort Service for Duffers?

When I read the article I found myself doing a double take to see if I was accidentally reading the National Enquirer and not a distinguished publication like Time.

In his effort to be witty, the author misrepresented an enterprise of young, talented (and yes, beautiful) athletes as "working girls". Unfortunately, his sense of humor was lost on me. "Spring Break Barmaids?" - give me a break!

These professional "ladies of the links" are not "ladies of the night" and it disppointed me to see Time plant the seed that there may be more going on than golf with these women.

PGD is a business that offers corporations and private events an opportunity to pay for "play" from pro women golfers who can drive the socks off their clients - they play golf, period! They provide a legimate service, not unlike what you would find at a ton of events and charities out there today. The pros that have "made it" now offer these services for free to charities (e.g. Wendy's challenge comes to mind). But for the ladies who haven't had their big break and are trying to make a career of golf, these events are revenue generators and they have every right to charge for their services.

I know of a number of pro women golfers who play in corporate and private events to make money so they can pursue their dream. Why? Because on the women's pre-LPGA tours (Duramed, Cactus, Cdn CN, etc), many golfers have to give up the sport they love because they just can't make ends meet - sponsors are as common as snow in the Sahara and the purses they play for are pathetic.

The women golfers who choose to play for pay are no different than Tiger getting $3M to play in the Australian Masters. They play...they get paid...they go home. Period!

The only thing different with the PGD ladies is that they are marketed professionally by company founder Nisha Sadekar. Now, I'm a marketing consultant by trade and I know sex sells. But that doesn't mean companies who use sex appeal in commercials are selling sex.

Check out Apple's iPod ad here. Every kid in America has an iPod and mommy and daddy aren't boycotting Apple because it is selling sex to minors.

But with PDG, it would seem that people living in glass houses are finding ways to make a legitimate business seem shoddy, as did Mr. Gregory, and sadly Dr. Donna Lopiano, former CEO of the Women's Sports Foundation and current president of Sports Management Resources, "Whenever anyone, including the athletes themselves, chooses to portray female athletes in other than sport-appropriate attire on the golf course, like these two golfers on the fairway, they're selling a sexual stereotype, not a skilled professional golfer. It offends me as a woman and fan of women's professional golf. Even the course superintendent wouldn't allow them on the course — unless it was to aerate the fairways with their spiked heels."

Dr. Lopiano is a highly respected leader in women's sports, but her remark about high heels on the fairways was just "catty". I can't tell you how sad I was to see this quote attributed to her. It added no value and was an "out of bounds" shot that lead to a big double bogey for her in my mnd. Sigh...

Tina Lloyd (nee Miller) from Big Break Ka'anapali and a member of PGD discussed her concerns about the article recently on GolfWRX and through a personal email to her friends and contacts she shared, "It is a shame that further research on the company was not done, such as actually traveling out to a corporate outing with PGD and actually seeing how things are run. We travel all around the country to companies, including "all women" companies, to teach them a bit about the game and for me that is what I can give back to the game that has given me so much."

I think it's time for Mr. Gregory and Dr. Lopiano to apologize to all the ladies of Play Golf Design.

Golfgal

Big Break PEI: Episode 5: Meeoow...Hssst! Nicole's Nixed

2009-05-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

When tonight's episode began, I felt like Andrew Magee from Big Break Ka'anapali, yelling,

"What's going on!!!!"

Oh my goodness! What was going on between Brenda and Nicole tonight? We've been through 4 episodes already and everything was hunky dorey between everyone (so it would seem). And then suddenly... POW - Cat fight city! Brenda and Nicole go at each other like two felines in heat.

Hats off, Golf Channel! You really had us going there for a while. Haha! I got an email from Michael Michaelides just before the show began saying, "Can't wait for the drama!" Me too Michael -- Me too!

Now don't forget, Michael was/is friends with Mr. BB X Drama King, David Mobley, so it was no surprise to me to learn that Michael was as interested in the pending drama as I was.

But...tell me, was it a bit anticlimatic to you? The two ladies were certainly "at each other" in their interviews, no doubt about it, but it was over in 10 minutes! I felt like I was watching Aurele "Al" Couture knocking out Ralph Walton in 1946. (Okay, yes I looked up this reference up - I'm not THAT old! ;))

Anyway, here's what Michael had to say about tonight's show...

Brenda was travelling Monday night, but caught the show late so we were able to chat this AM. I think it's obvious what/who we talked about...

Well, Derek watch the whole show for the first time in 5 episodes (he hates watching himself on TV). Besides asking about his great hole-out, I wanted to know what his take was on the Nicole/Brenda battle. Was it started by Brenda teasing them about a fling?

Seems to be a bit of a discrepancy on which hole they played, so I checked. Derek was correct - it was the 10th hole used for the par 5 challenge. 491 yards from the back tees, 461 from the whites. If Brenda's calcuation is correct and the women played 86% of the distance, then Gerina's tee position was 86% of 491 - making it 422 plus change.

Brian joined me this AM to talk about his exhausting day. He also wanted to share with the audience a personal message, which is worth hearing.

I wanted to talk to Blair today about her immunity challenge with Eugene and how rattled she was. It was interesting to hear what she thought of Charlie's comments...

It was great chatting with Gerina about her 290 yard drive - I like to live vicariously through long ball strikers. :)

I caught up with Nicole later on Tuesday night. She had a lot she wanted to share about her experience on Big Break PEI and what lead to the rather uncharacteristic behavior/comments we saw from her last night. She also had a number of people to whom she wanted to send a personal message...

Well, I think I have a better understanding now of what Nicole was feeling that night.

Good luck Nicole! Open invitation to you and any of the other Big Breakers who have left the show, but still want to share their thoughts on future episodes here.

Next week...the great wall! Who will flop their shots? Can't wait to watch and find out!

Golfgal

Legacy Golf Club - Scottish Links in Las Vegas

2009-05-15T08:36:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite places to play golf is Las Vegas - not for the gambling in the casinos, but the gambles I take on all the great courses the city of sin has to offer. I've played at probably 10 courses in Vegas, and liked most of them, but one of my favorite courses is Legacy Golf Club in Henderson.

A links-style gorgeous golf course designed by award winning architect Arthur Hills, Legacy is the annual home to the United States Open Qualifying Tournament and the American Junior Golf Association event, and the recipient of a number of well deserved rewards:

Nevada's ‘Top 10 Courses You Can Play' (Golf Digest)

Best course in Nevada (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

No. 1 public course in Las Vegas (Las Vegas Business Press)

Although technically, it doesn't meet the criteria to receive a top 50 or 100 Golf For Women award, I found it to be a great course for players of all skill levels and very women-friendly.

My husband and I were teamed with a local gentleman, Tom, a good golfer who knew the course well and was indispensible for keeping us out of trouble. And there is definitely some trouble on this course, but that just makes it more fun to play right?

Before we get to the holes that grabbed my attention, here are a few things you should know...

There are houses are the course, which normally I don't like, but some of them are just amazing. I actually didn't have any private properties come into play for me, but my jaw dropped when I saw some of the mansions on this course, especially this one overlooking the green on the par 3, 6th hole. According to Tom, this is the home of Harrah's CEO .

The carts didn't have a GPS (but with Tom's local knowledge and our range finder we were okay). The bottles of water and ice in the cooler were very welcome, but the one wet towel for the two of us ended up in a tug-of-war contest between me and my husband. ;) Not sure if this was an oversight or if they are a bit stingy with their towels.

Speaking of stingy, I think all golf courses should offer unlimited range balls to players, but like many other courses in Vegas we layed, Legacy offered just a small warm up bag. However, that being said, Legacy was better "value for money" than a lot of courses we've played in Nevada with green fees between $75 - $120 depending on the season.

The practice area was good - it had everything we needed - good range with grass tees, chipping, sand and putting practice areas as well. We were surprised at how fast the practice greens were. They gave us a good feel for what we were about to find out the course.

I'm not sure if it is always this way in that area, but boy was it windy! A few times, it almost blew me over. But it was a warm sunny day, so how can one complain about a cooling 30 mph breeze :)

Okay, on with the course itself...

Some of the holes are cart path only (such as the 1st hole), so beware of that on your tee shots. I tend to favor left to right shots anyway, so on the first hole it wasn't a problem to be "cart path friendly". And since the solitary bunker was on the left of the green, it was a good place to be for the approach.

The 3rd hole was the #1 handicap hole - a very long par 4.

There is a large fairway bunker that comes into play for all tee positions and I felt fortunate to walk away with a bogey on this hole.

The 5th hole is the first par 5 on the course. I liked this hole as it wasn't a problem for me to get a GIR, but be careful for the bunkering around the green - brutal!

The 8th hole was a long par 4 dogleg. Trouble abounds on this hole with a fairway bunker to catch you if you try and cut off the corner and water on the right new the green if you go the safe route and take the longer way around. No wonder it is the 3rd hardest hole on the course.

Now the 10th hole is either gimicky or perfect Vegas golf, depending on your point of view. The tee boxes are shaped like the 4 suits in a deck of cards. I thought it was fun - hey, when in Vegas...right?

Now the fun begins...holes 11 - 13 form what is called "The Devi's Triangle".

The 11th hole is a long par 4 with the wind was in your face. You have to carry the ball off the tee, but that wasn't really the problem - it was the bunker that ran along the right side of the fairway.

The 12th and 13th look pretty safe, given their short yardage, but accuracy is critical on these two holes. 12 is a dogleg par 4 that is easy to reach in two, but then you find yourself facing some of the toughest putting on this course - very undulating. 13 is tempting for long drivers, but we heard from Tom that many of them end up in a hidden bunker behind the green. I felt pretty good with bogies on these 3 holes.

The closing hole is a lovely, short par 4 that lets you leave the links with a smile on your face.

I highly recommend you give Legacy Golf Club a try. I loved the rolling fairways, generous, but very fast greens, rugged natural terrain with lava rock, natural grasses, desert flora and mountains in the background.

The course was in fantastic shape in April when we played it, and while we sipped our cocktails in the bar after our round, we were on the phone trying to change our flights to the next day so we could stay and play it again. I guess that means we liked it. :)

Let's put it this way...I'm already checking out the best deals to go back!

Golfgal

Big Break PEI: Episode 4: Caroline bunkered

2009-05-11T18:55:00.000-07:00

Well, this week's Big Break PEI was chocked full of all the things we love about Big Breaks, and then some:

- Full of fast paced competition - they squeezed every minute out of that production with 13 different skill contests tonight.

- Full of sand - bunkers were a big part of this show and according to the players, these bunkers were overflowing with very soft sand. I wonder if Rodd Mill River is always like that. I'll know on June 10th as I head off to play 3 rounds in PEI!

- Full of hilarious comments - from Brian's comments about having the hots for Kim and how she and he had so much in common to Eugene's stream of negative (and often comical) "You suck!" self-talk.

- Full of surprises - top picks go to Caroline's rollercoaster bunker play or Gerina's duckhook - which one surprised you the most?

But isn't that what makes Big Break's so much fun to watch? Armchair golf - ain't nothing better than a good glass of red wine, spicy pizza and lots of Big Break suspence!

When I saw Aaron's eyes in his interviews early in the show, I was sure he must be the one going home. Certainly he looked like he'd been crying (although he doesn't look like someone who gets emotional).

But it was Caroline's bunker play that was her detriment today- Or was it? I was thinking that maybe it was her slow play during the glass breaking. Her team started out ahead with Brenda breaking the glass first, but it came to a grinding stop when Caroline got up to hit her ball. I guess she forgot it was a race. It was like watching the tortoise and the hare, but this time, the hare won.

Well it looks like all my regulars are still with me this week, so let's start with Brenda...

Should be interesting next week - Brenda looks like she's in the middle of some drama. Haha...why does that not surprise me? ;)

Mike from BB X joined me tonight as well to give his commentary on the show as a past competitor. I love this picture of Mike with his Big Break "X" tatooed on his arm...now that's commitment!

I also wondered what the distance was on those glass breaking shots - they did look a lot closer than the ones I remember on the other Big Breaks. I'll have to ask Derek...he was there, but unfortunately (or fortunately) the "Think Green Guy" didn't get to break the glass this week after winning immunity...

Nicole was full of commentary today about last night's show, which I always love. She certainly has been underrated by the other players, but as we heard last night, "Those Wall Street people are tough!".

Well, it looks like Nicole and Brenda are headed for a confrontation soon. Never any winners in these situations, but they do make for good TV ;)

Blair has certainly done well in these first 4 episodes. I wanted to find out how she felt being the winning captain and what her strategy was for the glass breaking competition.

It was a long, full and tiring day for Gerina on this episode. Considered one of the best players on the show, this week was no cakewalk for her, but she came through!

Brian wraps up this week's interviews. I really wanted to tease him about his Kim comment - now I know what they have in common :)

I hope we see more of the banter between Derek and Brian next week - that was fun.

Well, we're back to even-steven, men versus women. I wonder if we'll see things flip now that the men have worked themselves back to all square. Poor Eugene, it must have been tough for him - two eliminations in 4 days. No wonder he's talking to himself.

Golfgal

Big Break PEI: Episode 3: Kim comes up short

2009-05-04T19:20:00.001-07:00

Well, tonight's Big Break PEI episode was a combination of chemistry, tension, and jockularity.

Chemistry "allegedly" between Derek and Nicole, self-inflicted nerves by Kim and good old Irish humor from "Ms. Feherty" (AKA Brenda McLarnon).

I guess the guys were feeling a bit better after this show, given they lost two of their own the first two weeks, but I was sad to see Kim come up short on her approach shots.

I try so hard to stop my ball on the green with my irons and they just roll right through. To see her nail her shots on the green and have them stop dead made me both jealous of her and sad for her at the same time. I wanted to yell at her, "Just take one more club!" everytime she went for the green.

Oh well, every week, I seem to be yelling at someone on the TV, but this week I did more laughing than yelling. Brenda kept me in stitches the whole night.

Well, you won't have to think too hard to figure out what I wanted to ask Derek "Dreamboat" Gillespie about last night's show...

Haha...Derek is a good sport taking all the teasing. I guess it all came down to "injury loves company" ;)

Next up, Brian shares what he was going through during a very rollercoaster emtional ride last night...

Don't forget to check out Brian's new website that will be up soon: http://www.brianskatellgolf.com/.

I caught up with Nicole later today and asked her as well about the "rumour mill" and her answer matched Derek's. Darn! I thought we had something thing.

Haha, imagine her sitting and watching last night's show with her new boyfriend. I can only imagine what he was thinking - too funny!

Gerina had such a great night last night, smashing that ball down the grid. I had to ask her how it felt beating all the boys...

And last, but certainly not least, the star of last night's episode, the woman who nailed her first shot only 5 feet from the hole, Blair O'Neal...

Is it me, or are these contestants just waaaay too nice to each other. Haha...Not sure if that's a good or bad thing ;)

I caught up with Mike from BB X later this week while he was chopping food for a BBQ with his team.

Som interesting observations about the elimination challenge I hadn't thought about before. I wonder what would have happened if Brian and Kim had putted out that last hole. Hmmm....

Anyway, it's glass breaking time next week. This is always one of my favorite contests and adding the school yard antics to it should be a lot of fun.

Golfgal

Big Break PEI: Episode 2: Football Fumbles

2009-04-27T16:59:00.001-07:00

Well, episode two for me was a big shocker tonight. I was looking at the Golf Channel website today, checking up on their latest poll and William was a very close second to Derek in the voting on who would win BB PEI. I won't tell you how I voted, but William's elimination came as a complete surprise for me.

I am not sure if it's his good ole country boy demeanor that makes him so loveable, or maybe I see more of Boo Weekley in him than just his accent, but I thought William would be in for the long haul. I guess we all have "one of those days", but Football didn't seem to be comfortable in his own skin tonight. I am sure he can play better than that.

His comment about par 3's being his nemesis was very telling. I wish I knew what was going through his mind when he heard that he would have to play 3 par threes against Brenda. How much did his mindset play in his elminition? All speculation, but something tells me that it must have been a lot.

Although we had some technical difficulties this week, William was a great sport about contacting me for his interview today. So many months later, I wanted to know if he was feeling like the windshield or the bug. And, of course, I was dying to ask where the nickname "Football" came from.

I sure hope William can land some sponsors. He deserves a chance to show his stuff. Hey Golf Channel, what about a reunion?

Next up is my interview with Brenda "What were you thinking with that 3" McLarnon. I love people like Brenda - no airs - no pretention - funny, self-deprecating humor - she's just a hoot!

You just have to love that woman's attitude! I wonder if any of the ladies on Big Break Ka'anapali would have shared their 'lucky charm' with their competitor in elimination challenge. Not likely! LOL!

Michael Michealides from Big Break X joined me again tonight to give his commentary on the show. Always great to hear from him because he's "been there, done that" and knows how to critique a golf swing.

Derek wasn't able to watch the show again this week, but he certainly remembers winning the $1,000. :)

Brian joined me today to share what he thought about episode 2 and his sound bites. He also sent a message to William that I really enjoyed.

For Blair, I wanted to ask her about 2-3-2 putt. It seemed like a strange decision given she just had to beat Kim who had made a 4.

I bet it was a crazy time out there for them all. Not at all like a regular golf game, I'm sure. I had trouble keeping track of all the scores, and I had a notepad!

Caught up with Nicole today and welcomed her to our weekly interviews. She is often considered the underdog in this show, but after listening to her, I think many people may be underestimating her...

Great to see Gerina bounce back from first episode gitters and win the $1,000 prize from Peak Vision...

Well, I'm not making any predictions about next week. I have been completely wrong two weeks in a row and not about to make it a triple. But it will be fun to watch, of that I have no doubt.

Golfgal

Big Break PEI - Episode 1: Live By the Driver - Die By Everything Else

2009-04-20T16:02:00.000-07:00

So, what did you think of the first episode of Big Break PEI?

Personally, I thought it had the best opening challenge of any Big Break yet.

Leveling the playing field right off the bat with a 3 foot knee knocker putt was brilliant, especially with the mind games the Golf Channel played with the contestants as they headed to the green.

Great drama!

I felt so badly for Kim when she missed her first shot of the series, but she certainly redeemed herself later. And a few of those other putts really just squeeked in the left side. This was no gimmey putt. I loved it!

But poor Robert...oh my! His motto to "Live by the Driver and Die by the Driver" may not be the best mantra for him to use to succeed in golf, unless, of course, he wants to be a long drive champion.

His second shots were less than stellar and his putting wasn't impressive. Sure that one shot over the trees from the other fairway was cool, but I would suggest that he call Mr. Pelz ASAP.

I was sad to see him go, however, as I heard that he is very funny. He probably would have added a lot of humor to the whole series. Although...that being said, Brian's "Is he going to use his putter again." comment was pretty funny. So maybe Brian will be the entertainer in the group (although something tells me he'll be more of a problem child ;)).

Anyway, it's not what I think that matters. I am sure you want to hear what the contestants thought of the first show. But before I get to them, I want to welcome Michael Michaelides from Big Break X to the blog. He was so much fun to talk to in the last series, I really wanted to hear what he thought about this group of Big Breakers, now that he's been through the experience himself.

Now on with the contestants...

First up, Blair O'Neal. Blair shares her first episode jitters and the best/worst things about Big Break PEI.

Cool to hear from Blair how nice Robert really is. He didn't get a chance to show us his real personality it would seem. Too bad about that.

Now, let's hear from Derek. Derek is in Mexico on the Canadian Tour and couldn't watch the show, so I really enjoyed teasing him about his sound bites ;)

Next up, the very entertaining, Irish lass, Brenda McLarnon...

I can't wait for Brenda's "colorful" interview next week, LOL!

I caught up with Gerina as she was finishing up a round of golf. She surprised me with some things I didn't know. I love it when that happens.

Hmmm...I wonder what Annie Mallory was doing there? Do you think there will be some past Big Breakers joining in on the competition? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

And now for the answer to the question we've all wondered about. Why did Brian throw up his hands and then the grass after making that shot? Check out what he had to say...you might be surprised.

I'm hoping to chat with William as well this week. So make sure you come back for that.

And I'll get some of the other past Big Breakers to join me from time to time over the next 2 months to share their thoughts on the show and competitors as well.

So let the 11 weeks of Big Break PEI fun begin!

Golfgal

Countdown to Big Break PEI - Introducing Canadian contestant Derek Gillespie

2009-04-13T13:23:00.001-07:00

Well, the Masters is finally behind us. A little anti-climatic, don't you think? It's such a big build up, and then Sunday night, it's all over. Oh well. A big congratulations to Ángel Cabrera of Argentina for a solid win. It was a little sad to see Kenny Perry blow the last two holes, but hey...that's golf right? And watching Sergio crash was not a pretty sight. Sure hope he can pick it up at the Open.

On a side note, I thought it was funny on Golf Channel when Kelly wondered out loud what food they eat in Argentina. Haha...perhaps she is a vegetarian. But there is no better beef in the world than what comes from Argentina (and hey...I'm a Canadian and we're darn proud of our tasty bovines). Anyway, enough about dinner.

Let's talk about the next big thing on Golf Channel - Big Break PEI. It's only 1 week away (note, they are changing the schedule to Mondays at 9 PM EST), and I am so excited about this 11th season for two very good reasons:

1. It's in Canada - Go PEI!
2. It's got another Canuck in the mix, Derek Gillespie.

I recently interviewed Derek for Inside Golf Magazine about his experience on the Big Break. What a character he is! If you've read his bio on Golf Channel, then you'll understand ;)

Check out what Derek thought of the whole experience and then join me each week for my post-episode interviews with 5 or 6 of the contestants. Should be a hoot!

I hear we've got a "Boo Weekley" wannabe and someone else who might need to be "bleeped out" from time to time during my interviews. LOL! And of course, there is always a "problem child" ;) Sounds great, doesn't it?

I'm also going to be bringing in some past big breakers to share their thoughts on this series and contestants.

Hope to see you back here for all of those interviews. And don't forget, if you have any questions for the contestants, send them my way. I'd be happy to ask (as long as they are G-rated...yes, I know there are Blair questions out there that are probably too hot for this kid-friendly blog).

Golfgal

"Inside Golf" and "Fore Her" Magazines keeping Golfgal busy!

2009-04-06T14:28:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone

Sorry I've been less prolific in my blogging lately, but I have a good excuse ;) I've been stepping out a bit and writing for some other publications.

This weekend, Fore Her Magazine released its April issue and I was honored to have the publisher choose 3 of my articles to include in it:

Page 50: Steele Canyon Golf Course review
Page 65: Meet Sara (no 'h') Brown
Page 68: Kyla Inaba: UBC Golf Captain Talks about Being a Female Golfer in Canada

In the next issue, I'll be including some new golf course reviews from my trip to Arizona the month and an inside look at the Big Break PEI from some of the contestants. So I hope you'll check that out when it's published in early June.

I am also very happy to have a regular column now in Inside Golf Magazine. So far, I've published 4 articles. A new one on Derek Gillespie from Big Break PEI will be out later this week.

I plan to write a new column every week (unless great golf weather interferes with my good intentions), so please drop by and check them out. You'll find that my column is not unlike this blog - I write how I feel, which can sometimes be a bit controversial ;), But hey...there's nothing like a good debate over a hot topic, right?

Check out my opinion pieces on The Masters, Duramed FUTURES Tour, Golf forums and some golfers' bizarre relationships with their flatsticks.

I'll be sure to let you know when my next article comes out this week on Big Break PEI, but if you wish, you can just sign up for Inside Golf's newsletter.. There's a ton of other great stuff in there!

Golfgal

Letter to LPGA Commissioner Ms. Bivens on LPGA stance on citizen journalists

2009-03-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

Back in December 2008, I read a blog interview with Carolyn Bivens regarding Social Media and Equality. In it she said, "We recognize the importance of reaching today’s youth and our global fanbase via social networking sites, and continue to explore opportunities for us in this emerging arena. We recently have established Facebook, Twitter and YouTube sites."

Well, I just learned today that Ms. Bivens now recognizes social media as more than just a place for the LPGA to play with children. The LPGA will now credential bloggers to cover LPGA events.

Wow! This is a major breakthrough and so I just had to write Ms. Bivens a thank you note...

Dear Ms. Bivens:

Let me be the first to congratulate you on credentialling non-traditional media for LPGA coverage. As a "citizen journalist" focused on the sport of golf, I am thrilled to see the LPGA take a positive and progressive stance towards bloggers.

I cannot speak for my fellow blogging buddies, but I for one, am impressed. Just as the LPGA was one step ahead of the PGA in instituting drug testing, you have demonstrated that you recognize the value of social media in the coverage of your sport. Well done!

Sincerely,

Golfgal
ps: BTW...would it be possible to get press credentials into PGA events where an LPGA player has a sponsor exemption? I am sure we'll see your newest LPGA'er Michelle Wie there again soon ;)

Monty walks 6000 miles to reach 500th tournament milestone

2009-03-25T15:46:00.000-07:00

I've been watching European Golf for many years now and I admit I often find it more enjoyable to watch than the regular PGA. When I tell people that, they think I'm crazy or even unpatriotic, but it's true. And it's because of the "characters" that play "over there", on and off the course.

First, there's Renton Laidlaw - not a better or more enjoyable voice on the Golf Channel when it comes to tournament coverage. I wish he covered the PGA.

Then there are the players. Oh sure, we've got our Boo Weekleys over here, but when it comes to the memorable characters of golf worldwide, you need to look at the European Tour. Sevi, Sergio, Stenson, Monty...these guys are the ones you love to watch, hate, laugh at, admire and tease. I love them all!

This weekend is a major milestone for my favorite Scotsman, Colin Montgomerie -- Monty will be playing his 500th tour event at the Andalucian Open. I read that if you added up all the fairways he's walked in the past 20 years, he would have made it to China. WOW!

Now while this reporter at the Daily Mirror below considers that playing Jimenez's tournament, a "fall from grace", I'm pretty excited about it. As much as I joke about Monty's hot temper and grumpy nature, those are the characteristics that make him both hateable and loveable at the same time.

When Monty smiles, he lights up the TV. When he growls, it's time to take cover. I've heard that Monty hates to lose more than he loves to win. With that attitude, no wonder he's filmed with a grimace more often than a smile.

Anyway, I saw this interview with Monty about his 500th tour event this weekend and thought you might enjoy it too.

For those of you who aren't yet "fans" of Monty on Facebook, I'll share with you his golfing career in numbers.

499 – Number of European Tour events as a professional (before this weekend)

31 – Number of European Tour International Schedule victories. (A record for a British player)

8 – Number of times he has finished European Tour Number One. (1993-99, 05) Number of holes-in-one. (Both European Tour records)

182 – Number of European Tour top ten finishes – a European Tour record

421 – Number of events he has been in the money from his 499 European Tour events

4 – Number of times he has won The European Tour Golfer of the Year award – 1995, 96, 97, 99 (A European Tour record)

13 – The number of European Tour course records he has amassed – a European Tour record

60 – Lowest European Tour round at the 2005 Indonesia Open

6 – Most European Tour wins in a season in 1999 – (equals The European Tour record)

10 – Number of consecutive years with a victory between 1993-2002 inclusive

260 – His lowest 72 hole total in a European Tour event on his way to winning the European Masters in 1996

18 – Number of years between his first and latest victory – the 1989 Portuguese Open and the 2007 European Open

2 – Number of albatrosses recorded

13 – Number of different destinations his 31 European Tour wins have come in.

14 – The number of years he has finished inside the top ten of The Order of Merit

9 – Number of times he has recorded multiple victories in the same European Tour season

1 – Number of wire-to-wire victories on The European Tour – at the 2001 Irish Open. First European Tour event as a professional at the 1987 European Masters

54 – The event number of his first European Tour victory – the 1989 Portuguese Open

11 – His biggest victory margin in a European Tour event – the 1989 Portuguese Open

3 – The only player to win three consecutive BMW Championship titles between 1998-2000

1,722 – Total number of European Tour rounds played from his 499 events

121,525 – Total number of strokes taken from his 499 European Tour events

1,597 – Total number under par for his 499 European Tour events as a professional

70.60 – Career stroke average on The European Tour from his 499 events

€23,639,775 – European Tour Official Career earnings from his 499 events – a European Tour record

€47,374 - The average amount earned per tournament from his 499 played

€13,728 - The amount earned per round from his 499 played

€194 – The amount earned per shot from his 499 played

Now...after seeing this impressive list, is it really all that important that he hasn't won a major? Not to me, it isn't. Monty IS a legend and not just in his own mind. These numbers speak for themselves.

I can't wait to watch Colin captain the 2010 Ryder Cup team. I love Colin Montgomerie and I'm not afraid to say it. He's more than just a great golfer- he's a personality.

And.... he's got one of the best grins in golf I've ever seen.

Golfgal

Monty’s off his stroke

Daily Mirror
25 Mar 2009

COLIN MONTGOMERIE’S 500th appearance on the European Tour takes place this week away from the spotlight in the humble Andalucian Open. Talk about a fall from grace. Monty has been playing golf so long that he remembers when one under par was a birdie,...read more...

Tiger Woods gets 3 million dollars just to show up at Australian Masters

2009-03-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

I just read today in The Australian about Tiger Woods being paid $3M to play in this year's Australian Masters. All he has to do is show up and he's $3M richer. What makes it even more amazing is that the winner of the event will only take home $270,000. Does this seem right to you?

Now I know this isn't really "new". We've seen the best players paid to play many times, but it still feels wrong to me. I understand why it is, but I just wish it wasn't. When does it become too much? Going Down Under for $3M seems over the top to me.

I recently wrote an aritcle for Inside Golf Magazine on the Duramed FUTURES Tour kicking off its season in Florida this weekend. In my research I looked at the purses these women play for and I was pretty horrified to see how the PGA and LPGA development tours differ in terms of leading money winners every year. Check it out last year's winners in both tours:

The pay differential is astounding to me. I've heard all the reasons about sponsors yada yada yada, but it's still just wrong. Golf is a game of inches and an equalizer on the course for men and women, but not when it comes to money. It still bothers me that the PGA generates about 100 millionaires every year - last year the LPGA had only 13 ladies break the $1M mark.

Now, I am a huge Tiger fan; don't get me wrong. I've followed him around at the Buick and I was in awe. But when I read Tiger say, "Some of the great golf courses in the world are right down there in Melbourne, that sand belt."....the first thing that came to my mind was, "But no matter how great they are, you're not setting one Nike golf shoe on them unless someone coughs up 3 million big ones, right Tiger?"

Feel free to tar and feather me on this one, but I'm starting to get a bit tired of the Tiger frenzy. Even when he didn't play for 8 months, all you ever read or heard about on TV was Tiger and his bum knee. I found it rather nauseating.

Anyway, it's an old song and it's been sung by many, but for me, it's a tune that has planted itself inside my head and I just can't stop humming it...."Ain't that a shame..."

Golfgal

Woods deal a bogey: Baillieu
By DAVID ROOD STATE POLITICAL REPORTER
The Age
20 Mar 2009

SPENDING $ 1.5 million to bring golfer Tiger Woods to Melbourne has been described by the Victorian Opposition as a bad investment at a time of mounting unemployment. Woods, the world’s best golfer, is to play at the Australian Masters for $ US3...read more...

Related:
Tiger is heading Down Under

Tiger is heading Down Under

Matthew Clayfield Brent Read
The Australian
19 Mar 2009

TIGER Woods will play at the Australian Masters this year after the Victorian Government sealed a $3 million deal with the world’s best golfer that is to be partly paid by Victorian taxpayers. Victoria’s Premier John Brumby last night confirmed Woods...read more...

Tech Tags: The Australian newspaper Sport

Meet Sara "No H" Brown - A promising Duramed FUTURES Tour star

2009-03-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

Life is funny. You wake up everyday and really never know what's going to happen. But if you are open to whatever comes your way, life will often give you some sunshine on a day where hail was forecasted.

Such was my day today. I woke up to a horrible forecast in Vancouver - cold, rain, chance of hail - AKA - No golf for you today, Golfgal!

So I decided I'd see what was happening in what Mr. Business Golf calls "La La Land" - ie. the Internet.

Long story / short: I connected on Facebook with Mike Brown, who had just read my post about Dave Andrews and the Duramed FUTURES Tour. Mike contacted me after I sent out a request for comments and opinions on a subject near and dear to my heart - the value of golf in a woman's career.

Mike and I chatted for a while and he shared a great story with me for my next Inside Golf article on Women in Golf and Business. And, of course, never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, when I learned that Mike is the father of Duramed FUTURES Tour player, Sara "No H" Brown, I asked him if he thought his daughter would be open for a quick interview.

The next thing I knew I was on the phone with Sara who was in Florida getting ready for the opening DFT event. What a beautiful young woman - outside and in. No pretention...no airs...just a friendly golfer who loves the game and loves life. You can just hear it in voice.

And Sara is not just another pretty face - she's got some pretty innovative ideas on how to save travel costs on the Duramed FUTURES Tour. LOL!

Sara is someone to watch this year. She joined the tour last June after graduating from Michigan State University. In only her second event on the DFT, Sara tied for 3rd! Now THAT doesn't happen too often. And although Sara only played 11 out of 17 events last year, she ended up 22nd on the money list - very impressive.

Sara has quite the resume at the ripe old age of 23 LOL!. Along with a bunch of awards and honors, she won 4 times in college and was named Michigan State University Female Athlete of the Year in 2007 and in 2008!

Yes, Sara is a lovely young woman with talent and personality. Listen in as she shares with me how she started in golf, her advice for young women thinking of a golf career and what's next for her this year.

I just read a Golfweek article about Sara from 2008 and discovered that like most of us golfgals, Sara loves shoes. I thought I was the only one who bought outfits to match shoes - haha - I guess not. :)

I also enjoyed reading what Sara's dad did when Sara got fed up with people spelling her name with an H. He went out and bought her this perfect vanity plate for her car. Good job Mike!

But the thing that I loved the most about listening to Sara today was what she said about her brother, Josh, when he caddied for her - she called him "a breath of fresh air on the golf course".

Wow! I had to listen to that part twice. Now, I'm running downstairs to make our "every bickering" 15 year old son and 13 year old daughter listen to that! Hey...maybe there is hope for our teenagers!

Thanks Mike and Sara - you made my day!

Golfgal

Meet Dave Andrews - Duramed FUTURES Tour's Biggest Fan and Supporter

2009-03-13T13:21:00.000-07:00

Last year, I was honored to meet a lot of wonderful young women on the Duramed FUTURES Tour vying for their LPGA cards through the Big Break Ka'anapali and Michigan series and Highway 18.

The struggles those women go through to get sponsorship really hit home, and since then, I've been wondering what could be done about it. Well, while I have been sitting around navel gazing, someone has been out there doing something about it.

Meet Dave Andrews - Former TV news reporter, member of Golf Writers Associaton of America, contributing member for cybergolf.com and author of Pops and Sunshine - a book that will warm your heart, bring tears to your eyes and make you laugh out loud. But more importantly, it will give you a taste of what these talented young women go through on their quest for their tour cards.

Dave is also one of the founders of the Future Stars Foundation - an organization whose goal is to raise money to provide grants to players on the Duramed FUTURES Tour.

This weekend the FUTURES tour kicks off its season with the Florida's Natural Growers Charity Classic, and I thought it would be good timing to connect with Dave and hear what he thinks about the players this year and who we should be watching. I also wanted to know what's been happening with his book and foundation...

It's so easy to get down when you see the Nationwide Tour on TV every week and we see nothing on the DFT. But when you meet people like Dave and see what he and his friends are doing for these ladies, it warms your heart. There are people who really care.

In these difficult times, these ladies need our help more than ever, so if you can donate even a small amount, please visit Future Stars Foundation and help these ladies realize their dream!