Golfgal

Giving Back through Golf

2013-05-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

Last April the first of a series of Compete for Compassion Skin Games was held in Texas. It was the fulfillment of a long time dream of Texas Golf ConneXion owner, Allen Baytes, who wanted to use golf to help kids in need.

The tournament was a great success, attracting golfers from all over the state, along with prominent sponsors and celebrities.

I had the opportunity to talk with Allen about the event, his dream for Compete for Compassion and the next of 3 more tournaments on the 2013 schedule.

So in case you missed it, here is where you can register for the next event being held June 24, 2013 at the Tradition Course at Cypresswood Golf Club in Spring, Texas.

I encourage you to keep up to date on the latest tournament news on Texas Golf ConneXion's page on Facebook. Give it LIKE and share with your friends and followers.

Golfgal

Roger Clemens Tees it Up at the Compete For Compassion Skins Game to Help Kids

2013-04-09T14:42:00.001-07:00

Just last week my friends at Texas Golf ConneXion (TGC) announced the first in a series of Compete for Compassion (CFC) golf tournaments in 2013 designed to help raise thousands of dollars for children’s charities.

On the heels of that announcement, Roger “The Rocket” Clemens, who topped The Masters of the Mound leader board for 7 years, and his wife Debbie, have added their support to CFC and will compete in the $10,000 Two-Person Scramble.

Roger Clemens and wife Debbie Tee It Up for Kids in Need

Each accomplished players (Roger is a single digit handicapper who tied for ninth at the World Am Championships in Myrtle Beach last August; Debbie shoots regularly in the 80’s), the golfing couple see events like CFC as a vehicle to raise awareness and funds for the charities they support throughout Texas and the US.

“Contributing to sporting events that support children has been part of my Foundation’s work for over 20 years,” said Roger. “And so when Debbie and I heard about Compete for Compassion and the work they are doing to make a difference in kids’ lives, we knew we wanted to get involved and do what we could to help.”

I wish I lived in Texas so I could join Roger and Debbie in this FUNdraiser and try my hand at winning a few Skins. So if you are even close to that neck of the woods, you really should play on April 28th at High Meadow Ranch Golf Club. The registration deadline is April 22, 2013. Entry fees are $195 (plus taxes) per player.

Imagine stealing one from the Rocket himself. Now THAT would be worth the price of a airline ticket for me.

Hit 'til you're happy Roger!

Golfgal

Golf Fore Gals on a Mission to Grow Women’s Golf in BC

2013-04-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year the (PGA) of America launched an industry-wide initiative to bring more women into the game. With less than 20% of US golfers being women, the PGA has lots of room for improvement. But things aren’t that much different in Canada. Here, only 30% of golfers are women and sadly women are leaving the game at a much higher rate than men.

There are many reasons for this trend, not the least of which includes money, time and family obligations. Recent research suggests that women abandon the sport more quickly because they feel:

The effects of “stereotype threat”which makes them predisposed to believe they're going to fail at the game.
Intimidated and unwelcome in a male-dominated environment
A lack of other women with which to play

While the trend is disturbing, it has not discouraged a local Vancouver woman who has made it her mission to grow women’s golf in British Columbia. Diane Fru, of Golf Fore Gals (GFG) -- a multi-course golf club for women of all skill levels -- is working hard to break down these barriers for women in BC, by offering them a fun, safe and welcoming environment to:

Discover the joys of golf
Build new social and business relationships
Book tee times up to 120 days in advance
Improve their game through a series of lessons, clinics and seminars held throughout the year

According to Facebook, over 30,000 women in BC “LIKE” golf. That’s a huge prospect list – one that Golf Fore Gals is going to target in 2013 with a new website, beginner’s program and social media outreach.

With three membership levels (Beginner, Social and Handicap/Golf Canada), women of all ages and golf abilities will find one that fits their lifestyle and desires for coaching, course rating, seminars, tournaments and competition. The GFG Community includes working women, retired women, executives, stay-at-home moms, young professionals and students from ages 25 to 85+.

GFG recently launched its new website where it introduces new programs to grow women’s golf in BC and Maui.

At the top of its “grow golf” agenda this year is an enhanced Beginners Program for women who have never lifted a golf club or have been golfing for less than two years.

The complete one-year, turnkey program includes everything a new female golfer needs to be successful learning, practicing and playing golf, including:

A one year annual GFG membership
A series of group golf lessons with other Beginner members
Prepaid green fees at our women-friendly courses
Beginner Rules and Etiquette seminar
Welcome package
Access to a fun and rewarding learning experience

According to Vancouver realtor, Lindsay Wilkinson, of Sutton Group, GFG changed her life, “I would not be a golfer today if it weren’t for the GFG Beginner Program and the Nine and Dine Program at Musqueam. I’m now in my 6th year of playing the game and loving every minute of it!”

GFG is affiliated with more than 60 of British Columbia’s best golf courses, including Mayfair Lakes Golf and Country Club, Morgan Creek Golf Course, Two Eagles Golf & Academy, Highland Pacific Golf, Greenacres Golf Course, Country Meadows Golf Course, Redwoods Golf Course, Black Mountain Golf Club and Shannon Lake Golf Club and University Golf Club (UGC), which is adding new forward tees to offer a shorter course suited for new players and those with higher handicaps.

“For years, University Golf Club has worked closely with groups like Golf Fore Gals to be a welcoming and user- friendly environment for all levels of women golfers,” said Michael Mather, general manager of UGC. “With the addition of 8 new forward tee locations (4 on each nine) we feel this will only add to the enjoyable playing environment our customers have come to expect at UGC. This also falls in-line with the 'play it forward' initiative, golf associations worldwide are promoting to help increase the participation and enjoyment for the female market.”

The new yardage at UGC will be 5188 yards (497 yards shorter than the existing front red tees). Early May is the target date to have these new tees available for play. The longer term plan is another 6 new forward tees (3 on each nine) which will shorten the overall yardage to 4845 yards for the 2014 golf season.

University Golf Club will be hosting GFG’s Annual Membership Drive on April 20, 2013 where members and guests will get an early glimpse of the location of the new tee boxes. The event will start at 11:00 at the clubhouse and will include lunch, a fashion show, presentations and the option to play 18 holes of golf or attend two one-hour clinics.

Non-members will receive a $50 coupon off the cost of a new GFG membership and several draws will be held for members and guests to win 2-for-1 GFG new memberships and other prizes.

“Golf Fore Gals is about much more than just golf. It’s also about women, community, friendship, sharing and having fun,” said Diane. “Our members not only love the game and the life-long friendships they’ve made through the club, they care about giving back. Through Golf Fore Gals, they support local community charities, while enjoying the great outdoors at the most beautiful courses in BC.”

For more information on becoming a member of Golf Fore Gals, visit their website at: www.golfforegals.com or contact Diane.

Golfgal (proud member of Golf Fore Gals)

$10,000 Skins Game Puts the FUN back into Golf FUNdraising for Kids in Need

2013-03-29T09:53:00.002-07:00

One of the things I really love about golf is the people who play it. 99% of the golfers I have met are "good folks". And the 1% who aren't, can't be real golfers, IMHO.

Recently I was fortunate to meet one of those really good folks from Texas - Allen Baytes. Allen is a golfer with a dream to help children in need through golf. So he started an organization called Texas Golf ConneXion (TGC).

TGC will host a series of "Compete for Compassion Skin Games" in Houston, TX in 2013 designed to bring more fun back into golf, and leverage the generosity of players and sponsors to make a positive impact in the community.

“Compete for Compassion grew out of my love for the game and a compelling desire to use my passion for golf for a greater good,” said Baytes. “Something has been driving me for 5 years to create tournaments that are not only a lot of fun for our local Houston golfers, but are a vehicle for raising awareness and money for kids in need.”

The first event of the year, scheduled for April 28, 2013 at High Meadow Ranch Golf Club, is a FUNdraiser, where 2-person teams scramble to win $5,000 in Skins and a $5,000 medal purse. Golf guys and gals over 18 years of age are welcome.

Handicaps, mulligans and gimmees are not in play, having been replaced with a true spirit of friendly competition. Entry fees are $195 (plus taxes) per player and the registration deadline is April 15, 2013. So if you live anywhere near Houston, I encourage you to register your two-person team.

No charity tournament can run without sponsorship, and this year Compete for Compassion has been fortunate to receive support from a number of companies who share the same commitment to the game and to helping children reach their full potential, including: Swanson Golf Center, Piretti Fine Putters, Blue Label Vodka, and Peli Peli Restaurant.

Swanson Golf Center, named Best Practice Facility in Houston Chronicle's 2010 Golf Guide, is holding its annual Demo Day on April 6, 2013 where visitors can enroll for the first Compete for Compassion event.

"We are delighted to offer our support to Compete for Compassion and the work they are doing,” said Matt Swanson, owner of Swanson Golf Center. “Golfers are well known for ‘giving back’ and we are proud to partner with the organizers and players to be game changers for children who desperately need help.”

“We are extremely grateful to our sponsors and their generosity,” said Baytes. “But we can’t sit on our laurels; we still need to continue to grow our contributions by attracting even more sponsors. But I have a strong belief in the power and passion of people in the golf industry and am confident together we will be able to raise even more money for our kids and make a significant difference in their futures.”

It's people like Allen and his sponsors that make me proud to be part of the golfing community. If you would like to help out even a little bit, there are numerous levels of sponsorship available. So please contact Allen Baytes, Tournament Director at Texas Golf ConneXion to find out more.

Golfgal

What Golfgals Want

2013-03-03T15:36:00.000-08:00

For years I have been writing golf course reviews based on the criteria Golf For Women Magazine used to rate courses as "women-friendly".

Golf has come a long way since GFW turned its last page in 2008, and so I was delighted when I saw a golf architect ask women what they wanted to see in golf course design on LinkedIn recently.

There were some great suggestions and I recommend you join the discussion and add some of your own. But before you do, check out my top ten things this golfgal wants on a golf course (beyond architecture) and let me know what you think.

This list is in no particular order...

#10:Women-friendly Yardages

I'm not hung up on an exact length, but I do have the most fun playing holes where a "Green in Regulation" is achievable and carries are a challenge, but possible.

My home course is 5,685 yards from the forward tees and there are 5 holes where I know I just can't get there.

As a bogey golfer, my ideal course is about 5,400-5,500 yards. But I also like a really good short game challenge, so I often enjoy playing "executive" tees around 4,600 yards. It is not only an excellent way to improve anyone's inside-100 yard play, it's a terrific option when you're playing with a beginner (and every public golf course should be designed with players of all skill levels in mind).

#9: Sexless Tees

Most golf courses have at least 4 tee boxes and typically 3 out of 4 them are rated for men only. What really burns me is how many men/boys who play from those markers do not belong there.

I realize that the male physique gives men a distance advantage, but that's not a valid reason for them to be hitting off tees meant for low handicappers.

I would really like to see the red tees at the tips and black tees forward. Shake up the colors people! And I'd like sex to play no part in how tees are labeled on score cards. I know the USGA would have something to say about this, but a golfgal can dream, can't she?

#8: Smart Starts

As a sequel to #9 above, I wish that Starters would ask golfers what their handicap was before they tee off, and then make them hit from the right marker based on their skill level. No handicap? Then play it forward folks! Call it a local rule.

I realize that many players wouldn't conform to that rule after the first hole, but at least it would send a message to golfers who think muscle is all that matters in golf. And it would speed up pace of play on at least the first hole.

#7: Tough but Fair

Women are not looking for a cakewalk on a golf course. We want what golfguys want - tough but fair challenges, risk/reward shots and opportunities to improve our physical and mental games.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of courses where the forward tees are designed for no one. I've seen championship courses in my province with tee markers plopped in the middle of fairways with par 4's under 200 yards and all the hazards of any consequence behind us. What fun is that?!

#6: Pace of Play Enforced

Regardless of sex, age or handicap, if you can't get around a golf course in 4 hours, pick up, skip a hole or get off the course.   Zero tolerance - no exceptions!

#5: ~~Players' Assistants~~ Marshals

I want to see Marshals at least as often as I see the cart girl during a round. Sure, they should offer assistance (like returning forgotten clubs to their owners), but the best thing they can do for me is to enforce #6 above.

#4: Flushing Facilities

Clean, well-stocked bathrooms near the 6th and 12th holes. I don't understand why this is even on the list, but sadly the quality of sanitary stations on many courses leaves much to be desired. Enough said.

#3: Pay By the Hole

When I ask people why they don't play golf, or why they've quit, many say it takes too long (AKA they don't have time) or it's too expensive.

Wouldn't it be nice if you could choose to play only 9 holes at any time, or spread 18 holes over 3 days?

What if you could buy a bunch of holes using a discount/loyalty card and play them anytime in any number?

Golf courses need to offer a lot more flexibility to attract and retain golfers. I know it's hard, but Some courses are breaking down these archaic paradigms and setting an example for others to follow. Now it's time for the rest to start thinking outside the traditional tee box.

#2: A Good Walk Unspoiled

There is a ton of evidence that walking is a great form of exercise. But walking also helps your golf game.

Walking the fairway puts your head in the right place. It gives you time to enjoy the scenery and live in the moment. Walking relaxes you and keeps you from over-thinking.

On your approach, walking lets you see the slope and elevation changes on a green, which are often missed when you have to drive the cart off the fairway, 50 yards from the putting surface.

Walking is good for your heart, your head and your handicap.

#1: More women on and off the course

It goes without saying that I would love to see more women playing golf, which is why I'm working with a women's multi-course golf club, Golf Fore Gals, in British Columbia to grow women's golf in this province.

But it's not just about who's welcome off the tee, but also who's hired as pro shop, guest services and maintenance staff, Starters and Marshals. I have seen a few women in pro shops, but it's rare to see them at the first tee, at the range or enforcing pace of play rules on course.

When I retire, I hope golf courses where I live are more open to hiring women in the traditional male roles, because there is nothing I'd like better than to politely suggest to those guys who are hitting from the tips, losing balls left and right and slowing up play take their game either to the forward tees or the range. ;)

Golfgal

Accenture Match Play: Golf's Greatest Desert Dual

2013-02-17T10:56:00.002-08:00

One of my favorite events of the year starts this week -- the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship.

Not only does it boast a field comparable with majors, Match Play at this level brings a Ryder Cup-like emotion to the stage that keeps me on the edge of my couch for 4 solid days.

Every hole feels like a new dual to the death in a Mano-a-Mano battle for supremacy.

Every challenger must bring more than his "game plan" to a match because Old Man Par isn't playing in this tournament - it's only you and your opponent in a test of wills, talent and gamesmanship, where only one contender will live to face another day.

Unlike stroke play, where we hear all the time, "There's still a lot of golf to be played", every shot and every decision could make the difference between being champion and being chopped.

I love it!

The 2013 brackets will be announced tonight and I'll be one of the first to put my predictive powers to the test.

I used to print off the bracket sheet, fill it in and track my results by hand. But this year Golf Channel is making it easier for us. For the first time, Golf Channel is offering us the chance to play a complete bracket game through their Fantasy Challenge series. The challenger who comes out on top with the most points wins a trip for two to the 2014 Accenture Match Play Challenge. Not to shabby eh?

And for those who end up in the top 64 on the Fantasy leaderboard, a set of Golf Channel head covers will make their way to your bag.

So who will you pick? Well, you might want to check out past years' results before jumping to any conclusions about an American taking home the trophy. In the past 5 years, only 3 Americans have made it into the final match.

And although Tiger has won it 3 times in his career, his track record since 2008 has been pretty abysmal -- he hasn't made it past the second round in the last 4 years.

Sadly we'll be missing some of our faves - Brandt Snedeker (T9 in 2012) withdrew due to sore ribs and Phil Mickelson (T17 in 2010) has yet another "conflict with scheduled family obligations".

But that won't take away from the excitement for me. My money's on Justin Rose, Ian Poulter or Luke Donald to take home the grand prize. Won't make my decision until I see who they are matched against in the earlier rounds, but their 2012 Ryder Cup performances, match play records and seasons so far indicate they are going to be sitting pretty going into Sunday.

So why don't you join me and fill in your own bracket on Monday and let me know who you think will reign supreme. I have a "golf goody bag" from the Golf Channel for one lucky winner who I'll draw at random next Sunday from all of you who send me your prediction.

Feel free to leave a comment below OR you can email me with your pick and mailing address (in case you win :)) at golfgal [at] on-mark-it.com

Now, let the battles begin!

Golfgal

Here are my picks (click on the image to see larger view)! Please share yours :)

Congratulations to Elijah who won the draw for the Golf Channel giveaway!

Après Golf on Maui

2013-01-27T15:25:00.000-08:00

The tropical paradise that is Hawaii's island of Maui is a well-known golfer's dream destination. And make no mistake about it, this golfgal and guy have had our share of "Sweet Swinging'" amongst the palms and coconuts.

Beaches

Where does one begin?

There are so many gorgeous ones that it is often hard to decide where to plant your umbrella. We tended towards beaches that have great facilities, calm waters and fun things to do nearby, like, eating, drinking and shopping. Luckily there are some great beach right near the resort.

You can walk to Honoapi’ilani Park from Papakea. There is a walking path right across from Times Market. We drove it because we had a ton of stuff (cooler, beach umbrellas, beach chairs, etc (all in the condo ready for your use) – it took exactly two minutes.

The beach is beautiful and very popular. But take your water shoes because as you walk into the water, there is some rock underfoot.

It’s also just a few steps away from Dukes – a very popular restaurant you really should check out – a wonderful place to watch the sun set.

An even nicer beach is at Kahekili which is a bit further south in front of the Westin Villas. Head towards Ka’anapali along the highway and turn right at Kai Ala Dr. You can’t miss it.

The beach across from the facilities (which are excellent, BTW) has good snorkelling which is probably why lots of scuba schools do lessons there. But take your water shoes – there are some rocks.

For better swimming (i.e. no rocks) walk down the concrete path towards Black Rock. When the path ends, so do the rocks.

Ka'anapali Beach Offers Many Wonderful Options For Travelers To Explore

Good snorkeling is only steps away from the Sheraton Maui Resort at a massive lava outcropping called Black Rock (Puu Kekaa).

You can just walk into the ocean with your fins, snorkel and waterproof camera and enjoy all that the coral reef there has to offer, including friendly sea turtles that frequent the area.

Black Rock is also the site of a nightly re-enactment of a piece of Maui history.

Legend has it that warriors’ spirits used to leap off the rock to meet their ancestors.

So, around sunset, we sat at one of the Sheraton’s beach bars to watch a young Hawaiian jog through the resort lighting torches along the way until he reached the top of Black Rock.

Then, as the drums were rolling, and cameras flashing, he took a swan dive off the rock -- for me it was definitely a “spectator-only sport", but our teenagers couldn't wait to take the leap and did so again and again and again the next day the moment they hit the beach.

Another wonderful beach just 10 or so minutes north of Ka'anapali is Napili. I decided to take a video of this beach from the Sea House restaurant which has good food and stunning views.

If you are looking for a beach that is a little more secluded and private, without giving up Maui luxury, you should check out Makena.

The locals consider the area “a long drive down south”, but it’s really only 5 minutes from Wailea and 40 minutes from Ka’anapali. That’s a daily commute for many Vancouverites. So if you are touring the island, drop in and take a dip in ocean at Makena.

Snorkeling

Although you can often walk in off the beach with your snorkel gear, there's nothing like a guided tour. One of the best dive and snorkel spots in the world is just down the southwest coast of the island - Molokini – a crescent-shaped crater that is home of a myriad of marine life, including reef sharks, eels and the famous Humuhumunukunukuapuaa – a little fish with a very big name!

I highly recommend the tour hosted by the Pacific Whale Foundation. Not only will their experts take you on a cool, high-tech, smooth-riding catamaran (complete with slides) to see tons of fish and live coral in every color of the rainbow at Molokini, they drop by Turtle Arches, where you can swim with the turtles. I highly recommend you rent one of their underwater cameras for less than $40. We have a ton of pictures of the kids with the fish we will treasure forever.

And you might be lucky like us and have the captain turn the boat around to head closer to shore to give us a glimpse of some spinner dolphins playing with the paddlers.

And if you travel between December and April, you should really sign up for their whale watching tours. Yes, it's true you can see them from land, but nothing beats getting up close and personal!

Surfing and Paddling Lessons

If you love the water and a little adventure, try taking a surf or paddle boarding lesson at Maui Surf Clinics in Lahaina. Our teenagers had never try surfing before, but they were up and hanging ten in no time.

The next day they rented boards at the same place and spent the day riding the waves.

After hearing that their teacher has been successfully getting students from ages 3-82 "up" on their boards, I'm thinking I may give it a try next time we are there. Wish me luck! I couldn't stay up on my paddle board for longer than 20 seconds.

Eating And Drinking Your Way Around Paradise

We have eaten in many wonderful restaurants on Maui; here are just a few of our favorites...

Hula Grill Ka’anapali

A great après-Ka’anapali golf restaurant in Whaler’s Village, Hula Grill, has never failed to impress us. We have eaten there many times in the lively and sandy “Barefoot Bar”, and evenings in the main open-air dining room.

Comfortable seating a few steps from Ka'anapali Beach

Hula Grill offers fantastic views of the beach and ocean from every table, friendly servers, tasty cocktails and the best Ahi Sashimi we could find on the island (and we did our research!).

Derick Sebastian

And a real bonus is the live entertainment in the evening.

If you ever get a chance, check out the Hula Grill when Derick Sebastian takes the stage with his ukulele.

You won’t believe it - he plays Santana better than Carlos, who, BTW, lives in Kapalua and comes in to the Hula Grill just to listen to Derick play. Yup, he’s that good!

Leilani's on the Beach

Right next door to Hula Grill is Leilani's - winner of Best Fish Tacos on Maui.

We did a bit of a "taco challenge" on the island, comparing 5 or 6 restaurants who professed to have the best, but Leilani's tacos were definitely a step above the rest.

We took the best ideas of all of the ones we tried and created our own recipe. And I say this with all honesty and humility...my golfguy's fish tacos are truly the best on earth!

Mala Ocean Tavern

There are two Mala restaurants on Maui – one at the north end of Lahaina on Front Street and one at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and Spa.

We ate at them both and shared a number of dishes that were all delicious.

I can still taste the Lamb Pita appetizer, the Salmon Terrine and the Adult Mac and Cheese - decadent! Lahaina’s Mala is a bit of a hole in the wall, but the patio sits right on the ocean with a gorgeous view of Lana’i, especially at sunset.

It’s a very busy, "happening place"so I wasn't sure if I would enjoy sitting so close to strangers at the tightly packed tables. But we ended up chatting with tourists on both sides of us, turning the evening into a party. Mala’s tag line on all its merchandise is “Practice Aloha” and it fits.

Right next door to Mala in Lahaina is its sister restaurant, Honu. Newer and roomier, the food is also wonderful and literally steps from the ocean.

Lunch for 2 at Honu

Star Noodle

Now if you are a foodie, you won't want to miss this restaurant. It's owned by Top Chef Sheldon Simeon and offers a delicious Asian-Fusion menu. It's out of the way (up behind Walgreens in Lahaina) in an industrial area, with absolutely NO VIEW, but the food makes up for that.

But, beware...it is so popular that you can expect to wait up to 2 hours for a table if you arrive during normal dinner hours. Either drop in for a late lunch or a very late dinner to avoid the crowds.

Some memorable 19th holes

If you love golf and love to eat (who doesn't), check out these golf course restaurants. Here are my favorites:

The Seawatch at Wailea Golf Club

Seawatch offers a delicious and visually-stunning dining experience to golfers and non-golfers alike. Without a doubt, this restaurant serves the best Crab Cakes Benedict on Maui

Owned by renowned chef, Bev Gannon, Seawatch is not only a treat for your palate, it offers spectacular views of the golf course, gardens and ocean. It can be a bit pricy at night, but they have a great happy hour menu which very tasty and affordable.

The Plantation House at Kapalua  

The Plantation House at Kapalua is very popular with not only club members and their guests, but also the residents of Kapalua and tourists who don’t even golf.

And although I didn’t get to try too many dishes on their menu due to timing constraints.

If their Crispy Crab-stuffed Ahi Roll with Soy-wasabi Mustard Vinaigrette is any indication of the rest of the food, then I’ll be back!

Roy's Restaurant at Ka'anapali

Roy's is a very popular chain throughout the US. Since it opened up at the Ka'anapali Golf Resort clubhouse a year or so ago, it has become a favorite for both golfers and non-golfers alike.

I love sitting by the window watching the players struggle in on the challenging 18th hole of the Royal Course, sipping cocktails and enjoying tasty pupus from their Aloha Hour menu. Yum!

Café O’Lei at the Dunes of Maui Lani

This 19th hole was a very pleasant surprise. Our expectations weren’t high, given the Dunes isn’t really on the “resort circuit” but we quickly became fans. The restaurant is very popular with the local business professionals for good reason.

The Tempura Mahi Mahi was delicious and I can’t remember ever tasting a better sirloin burger. We had drinks after our round at the bar and enjoyed chitchatting with the bartender, Barbara. Not only was she attentive, she entertained us with stories that left us laughing all the way home.

According to the Café’s Hawaiian Sous Chef – “Never drive through the Olowalu Tunnel on the Honoapiilani Highway with pork in your car after 10 PM, or the Night Marchers will stall your car so they can steal it from you.”

Okay! No pork in the car after 10! Got it! The Dunes at Maui Lani offers a unique golfing experience, great food, friendly staff and an up-beat atmosphere – what more could you ask for?

Oh...for those of you who have a red-eye flight home...this is a great place to eat dinner before you head to the airport, which is only 7 minutes away.

Evening Entertainment

Luaus

No trip to Maui is complete without experiencing an authentic Hawiian Luau. The one you'll hear about the most is the Old Lahaina Luau - a traditional Luau that is very popular.

We wanted something a little more "exciting" so we chose The Drums of the Pacific at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

It was a fun evening with tons of costume changes and very talented performers. The kids could join in on stage and the drinks were flowing (take a cab! :)). I can't say the food was spectacular, but it must be hard to serve hundreds of people at one time, but it was certainly edible and we had a great time.

Warren and Annabelle's Magic Show

I lost count the number of times I heard from locals that Warren and Annabelle's is the best show on the island. Now, we aren't into magic shows normally, but the hype was so great, we had to try it.

Fill-in John Shryock Was Hilarious

When you enter the $1.2M “stage”, you’re faced with having to solve an unusual riddle before you can make your way into a charming lounge that looks like a library in an old mansion.

You’re served tapas and drinks by singing waiters while you listen to Annabelle (the resident ghost) play the piano and take requests. It's a lot of fun.

After dinner, you move into an intimate, but comfortable theatre, which holds about 80 people.

Given Warren was on vacation, we were expecting to be under-wowed by his substitute. However, we were very pleasantly surprised to discover fill-in John Shryock from Vegas was not only a talented magician, he was hilarious.

My face hurt from laughing so hard. I’m not surprised that it's been a sell out almost every night for years.

So much more...

Maui is chocked full of fun excursions and although we haven't done them all (been too busy golfing), our guests have recommended the following:

The Road to Hana
It's a long drive (5 hrs+) with 67 curves, and you gotta go slow. But you'll want to make lots of stops along the way to enjoy the waterfalls, bamboo jungles and black sand beaches. Often people drive down one day, stay over and drive back. But many do it one day. Just stick to the north road as the south route can put a few extra grey hairs on your head.

Sunrise Tour at Haleakala
If you don't mind getting up at 3 AM to catch this tour, I hear it's breathtaking. You'll enjoy the dawn of the day and majesty of Maui's 10,023 foot volcano. But remember to bring your woolies - it's very cold up there!

There are also ziplines, treacherous bike tours down the volcano (be very very careful!), parasailing (during non-whale season), an aquarium, winery and coffee plantation tours.

And of course, there are over a dozen golf courses and I can describe almost every inch of them if you have a few hours :)

"So much to do...so little time!" will fall off your tongue as it drops from your mouth when you experience this island paradise.

But don't worry...when you leave Maui someone is bound to say to you..."A hui hou kakou" which means "Until we meet again". Maui is addictive and those who call it home know that the chances of you returning are pretty darn high. So just smile and say, "Mahalo!" (thank you) as you board your plane home, because I know you'll be thinking of coming back at least..."Hana hou!" (One more time).

Aloha!
Golfgal

Can Crowdfunding Work for Golf?

2013-01-19T14:43:00.002-08:00

Imagine being PAID to PLAY two terrible rounds of golf, missing the cut and still walking away with $3M.

Imagine being PAID to PLAY brand spanking new Nike clubs for $250M, and after only 18 holes giving up on them and switching back to a competitor's brand.

Now imagine you are trying to play on the mini tours in the US, living out of your car, flipping burgers to make enough money to PAY to PLAY a tournament where the winnings won't pay the rent.

Something just doesn't seem right. People used to say that golf was a more financially-fair sport compared to hockey, football, baseball and basketball, because if you didn't play well, you didn't get paid. Obviously Tiger and Rory don't live by the same "no play, no pay" rules as normal tour players.

Now, I'm not saying they don't deserve the money they make. Golf is a business and equipment manufacturers and tournament sponsors can invest their money any way they like. But you'd think that there would be more clauses in these contracts to ensure that they get their money's worth.

Golfers have a long history for "giving back" so I think Rory and Tiger should return half the money. They didn't perform well enough to play 4 days, so they should only get paid for 2.

In fact, what I'd love to see them do is donate half the money to those who really need it - the struggling mini-tour men and women who have talent, but not the resources and support to take their game to the level needed to compete for the big money.

I've often thought that if I didn't have to work for a living, I would like to run a Crowdfunding Foundation for golfers who aren't born with a platinum putter in their piggies.

I know of a number of foundations in the UK and a Trust Fund in BC, but what about the US?

There are a ton of pro golfers trying to raise money for their dream career. Donations trickle in for some, but it's still only pennies and it's not leveraged. A foundation could use social media and micro donations to grow a fund for the collective and loan it to "qualifying" players for their "Big Break".

Imagine if the foundation was also supported by those in the business of golf. What if the Golf Channel/NBC, equipment manufacturers and successful tour players PAID so new pros could PLAY.

The more I think about it, the more I think it could work. I would call it the Big Break Golf Foundation. Has a nice ring to it don't you think? :)

Golfgal

Image of player with female caddy © Chris Van Lennep | Dreamstime.com

Don't let breaking putts on Maui break you

2013-01-12T12:43:00.003-08:00

In the 1989 fantasy-drama, Field of Dreams, the prophetic phrase, "If you build it, he will come." was born.

And for the last dozen years, it has been bastardized into many forms. In my product marketing world, I am reminded of this adage far too often. Software engineers often believe, "If we build it, they will come" ("They" being customers). If that were true, I'd be out of a job ;)

I can't really blame them, however, for thinking like that. I'm just as guilty. In my weekend-warrior golf world, I believe, "If I will it, it will drop." I know that I'm living a fantasy when I think this, but I also have experienced that rare feeling of looking at a putt and knowing it's going to go in. I'm willing it to go in and I just know it will. Have you had those feelings before? Don't you wish we could call upon those wills at will?

Watching the Aloha-ha-ha-ha season kick off in Maui last weekend and seeing Snedeker miss a two-footer, I was reminded about how putting on Maui is nothing to laugh about. Kapalua may be one of the easiest courses on the PGA Tour from tee to green, but those greens make up for any gimme-birdies the pros are already thinking about from the fairways. Maui greens are brutal, no doubt about it.

Par 3 8th hole at Kapalua

But...there is hope for those who follow a few basic tips...

Start reading your putts long before you approach the green.

The slope you'll see from afar will seem to disappear when you get up on the putting surface. It's amazing how often I see people walk up to the green, look down and around to figure out which way the ball will break.

5th green at Kapalua looks pretty flat when you are close to it.

But don't forget what it looked like from down there.

And invariably they will be completely flabbergasted when their ball wizzes past the hole, or doesn't get even close to it, or breaks opposite to what they expected.

When you get up to your ball on the green, mark it and walk up to the hole and look straight down. The hole will tell you exactly how the ball will roll.

Look for the roughest edge on the hole and you will see how the grain runs.

Putts coursing towards the rough edge from the other side of the hole will be lightening speed! Those moving towards the smooth edge will be as slow as Kevin Na's pre-shot routine.

Once you know the way the grain runs, stand at the hole and look up at the mountain to the east and the water to the west. Your ball will always run with the grain and the grain always runs towards the ocean.

It's very easy to get misinformation by just looking down and around the contours of the dance floor. Myopic golfers beware; those little hills and valleys you perceive are there to reek havoc with your decision making. Remember, they are optical illusions. Have faith in the big picture to see how your putts with roll.

Now you know the pace and the line. So forget everything else and hit your ball the way Mother Nature intended.

This is the hardest part. Your mind is battling with conflicting information, but when you step up to your ball, there can be no doubt in your stroke. Just like a pilot trusts his instruments, you must hit your putt with conviction based on "just the facts ma'am!".

The great part about putting at Kapalua, and Ka'anapali or any of the other great golf courses on Maui, is that if you putt on the line determined by the grain, at a pace dictated by the world around you, not the boundaries of the green, the ball will go in.

It takes a lot of trust and practice to putt well on Maui, so don't beat yourself up if you suddenly find yourself lining up your 3rd or 4th putt.

And, when you walk off a green on the Valley Isle, don't trudge towards the golf cart with your head down, chastising yourself for yet another bogey.

Instead, hold your head high and look back from whence you came.

Often the best views on Maui golf courses are the ones behind you.

Look back from the 11th green before heading to 12 at Kapalua.

If you do that, soon your golf score won't seem so important and you'll remember why you're there in the first...to PLAY with a PURPOSE. And that purpose is PURE PLEASURE!

Golfgal

Breaking Paradigms is Good for Golf and Golfers

2013-01-06T15:37:00.003-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are ready for some serious New Year's Resolutions around your golf game!

A friendly piece of advice...Make only one resolution this year. Promise yourself that 2013 will be the year of having fun on the golf course. Sounds so easy, but you and I both know, it's anything but, for masochists like many of us! ;)

Meanwhile for all those who are in the business of golf, I want 2013 to be the year you "think outside the box" when it comes to giving golfers what they want - affordable golf, when they want it and how they want it.

Sounds difficult, but it really isn't. There are some very innovative thinkers in this business who are breaking golf's "must play 18 holes" paradigms and giving golfers different and more affordable ways to "consume" golf, how and when it is convenient for them.

Ed Kageyama, PGA General Manager of Ka’anapali Resort on Maui is one club executive who's made it his mission to continually look for new ways to offer local and visiting golfers playing options that suit their budgets, their schedules and their lifestyles, without compromising the club's bottom line. Here are just 3 of them...

GOLF MY WAY
While on vacation with family or friends, time is precious and often the biggest factor in deciding to play, or not to play, golf. If your significant other doesn't play, it's pretty difficult to say, "Hey honey, I'm off to play golf! Find something to amuse yourself and I'll see you in about 5 or 6 hours."

Okay, it's not so difficult to say, but it's pretty difficult to live with the consequences. So 2.5 years ago Ka'anapali Resort management created a program which allows guests to play 18 holes of golf over 7 days. You can break up those holes any way you like - 3 one day, 4 the next...whatever suits your schedule.

FIT CLUB
In 2009, Ka'anapali began a program whereby local and visiting golfers could walk and play holes 1 to 6 on either the Kai or Royal Course anytime after 4 PM. For only $79/month golfers could theoretically play 180 holes of golf.

You do the math...180 holes is 10 rounds of golf. At $79/month you're looking at less than $8 a round, or only 44 cents per hole!

Need less to say, FIT CLUB is very popular with locals who love to drop by the course after work. In fact, it is such a great deal that the club is seeing golfers who left the game coming back because it's more than affordable and easy to fit into their schedules.

And for all you tourists, it's a wonderful way to work off those Mai Tais while you play the game you love in paradise. Sweet!

When I was on Maui in November, I saw a couple of dozen golfers of all ages taking advantage of the hottest deal on the island every day. Someday, one of them will be me!

GOLF PLUS
Now here's a program that more clubs should do to maximize rounds played at their clubs. At most golf clubs, there are off-season or off-peak times where the course isn't being played as much as managers and owners would like. One might think that the obvious thing to do to bring in players would be to lower green fees during those times, right? Wrong!

Once again Ed Kageyama took a more innovative approach to solving the problem. Rather than discount tee times, Ka'anapali partnered with other resort businesses to offer a "PLUS" to a round of golf played during non-peak times.

For example, from 10 AM – noon during slower months, the resort offers guests an option of a "PLUS" if they play golf within those hours during the day, such as:

A $25 gift card for Roy's Ka'anapali restaurant
A massage appointment at the Hyatt Regency Maui or Westin Maui Resort and Spa
Two for one Luau tickets at Royal Lahaina

Everybody wins with GOLF PLUS. Golfers enjoy faster rounds during quieter hours; spouses enjoy the extra perks; partner businesses get new customers and the club isn't losing money by discounting green fees. The results...Rounds at Ka'anapali increased by 25 percent!

The National Golf Foundation announced last fall that rounds played in 2012 were on the rise, and it looks like 2013 is going to be more of the same for golf clubs and resorts in the US.

I just hope that this doesn't create complacency with golf course managers, thinking they can bank on promising industry trends to keep them in the black.

Instead, I hope they take a lesson from Ed and start to think outside of the tee box and look for innovative ways to give golfers what they want while growing revenues and profits for their clubs.

It's a new year full of promise with the bogies of the past behind us. I wish you and your loved ones the very best in 2013, and as one of my favorite people in the whole world (my coach, Ginny Golding) said to me this Christmas...

May all your putts drop
And all your drives soar
May your chip shots be crisp
To lower your score!

Happy New Year everyone!

Golfgal

Golf with Aloha

2012-12-16T13:36:00.002-08:00

They say that golf is a "gentleman's" game and I've often wondered...Does golf attract "gentle people" or does it make people "gentle"? It's probably a little bit of both, but either way, my experience has been that, except for the very rare occasion where an unfriendly joins our foursome, 99% of the people I meet on the links are people I'd like to play with again.

But what about the people who work in the golf industry? Well, quite frankly, I never thought much about them. There are a couple of Starters who remember my name when I walk to the tee at my home course. But other than that...I'm pretty much invisible. I have been playing the same public course for years and yet every time I walk into the pro shop to check-in, they ask for my name.

But I learned on my recent trip to Maui that not all golf courses or employees are created equal. I knew I wanted to play a lot of golf in paradise, so I bought a couple of Ka'anapali's golf packages and proceeded to book a bunch of tee times.

When we arrived at the course for our first round, we were greeted by a big smile and a very loud and enthusiastic, "Aloha!" from one of the guest services staff who immediately took care of getting us set up.

Shortly after we checked in, it was "all about us" and everyone seemed to know our name. It was Mrs. Kelly this and Mrs. Kelly that. I laughed because the only "Mrs. Kelly" I know is my M-I-L. :)

When we finished our round, we were greeted with cool towels and more friendly banter from the guys who greeted us on arrival. And it occurred to me that there is more to Ka'anapali than great golf.

Out of the 17 golf courses on Maui and Lana'i, my golfguy and I have played 15 of them, more than a few times. And although they all have things that make them special in their own way, I've never experienced staff who exude the "Aloha Spirit" more than those men and women at Ka'anapali. Let me introduce you to a few of them...

Larry was the first person we met on Day 1. Never without a huge smile on his face, a chuckle in his speech and a peck on my cheek, Larry is unforgettable with a wonderful head of "Alaska Blonde" hair.

My new BFFs at Ka'anapali: Jack (left), Larry (right)

You'd never guess it looking at him, but he's 72 years old with 17 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. In his almost 32 years at Ka'anapali, Larry has met a lot of golfers and many of them have come to call him "friend". One fan treated Larry to a free 2-week vacation in Japan during the 1998 Nagano Olympics; another instituted an "open door" policy at his well known hotel in Las Vegas for Larry and his friends.

Sammy Davis Jr., who Bob Hope once joked, "...hits a nice ball about 90 yards, but his jewelry flies 110." was a regular guest at Ka'anapali. He had met Larry's son who was on policy duty at his hotel once and couldn't hold back when he saw Larry at the couse, "Hey Larry! Your son is tall and good looking. How come you so short and ugly?" To which Larry was quick on the comeback with, “Well, I guess us short and ugly guys gotta stick together!"

Jack, who has been at Ka'anapali even longer than Larry loves working there because he meets so many wonderful people - like his favorite professional, Tom Watson, who regularly played in the Champions Skins Game.

Jack was also delighted to meet Celine Dion and Sharon Stone, both of whom he described as "very nice". I found it amusing when he said they both dressed in baggy clothes so they wouldn't attract attention. I started looking for "stars" by checking out those with the baggiest attire. ;)

One day, Jack walked up to me and surreptitiously place a bright pink 'Paula Creamer' golf ball in my hand. I normally don't play bumble gum balls, but I decided to put this special gift into play. And low and behold, I scored my best round of golf ever! When I got back to the clubhouse I swear Jack was excited about it as I was.

From that day forward, Jack brought me good-luck balls to play before each of my rounds. He also noticed that I like to drive the cart, so he used to move my bag to the driver side. It was a smart move as it reduced the number of collisions my golfguy and I had on the course when we both got out of the cart to grab a club at the same time.

Most first tee gatekeepers (AKA Starters) I know have a tough job "herding cats" and usually don't have time to get to know you. But our experience was different at Ka'anapali where Justin, Roscoe or Kyle would pair twosomes who they knew would play well together even if it meant juggling a couple of tee times (with players' approval of course).

Justin and Kyle "start" you off right!

On course we got to know one of Ka'anapali legends. 87 year old, Tommy (Tang) Sarashina has been working at the resort for 41 years. For the past two decades, he has marshaled both courses and quenched the thirst of many a player with a chilly cup of Tang - the drink of astronauts.

Tommy "Tang" quenches our thirst on the Kai 8th hole

When Tommy was 19, the unthinkable happened -- the teenager was drafted by the Japanese Army and spent two years in Siberia as a prisoner of war. Oh my!

When he was finally released, he couldn’t return to America because of his compulsory conscription into the Japanese military. It took him 20 years, but finally in 1971 he successful regained his citizenship and returned to the US.

Talk about your hell-to-heaven life story, eh?

There are so many people at Ka'anapali whose #1 priority it is to make your golfing experience the best you've ever had. It would take a novel to share all their stories, so let me just thank a few of them for the best 3 weeks of golf I've ever had...

Thank you June, Wayne, Patrick and Kathy

June started working at the club in 1963 and shared with me the history of Ka'anapali and all the changes she's seen over almost 50 years. June witnessed the first major tournament played in Maui – The Canada Cup in 1964. And when they opened the Kai course in the late 60's, it was completely walkable, so a lot of locals learned to play golf right there. It’s still a huge draw when the course opens up for walkers everyday at 4 pm for FIT CLUB - a great deal for both locals and tourists alike.

Wayne, who always welcomed me by name when he checked me in, has given 12 years of service to the resort and says he wouldn't want to work anywhere else. I don't blame you Wayne!

Patrick started his career at a WA State ski resort just south of us. He told me he woke up one day and decided he didn't like the cold and moved to this weather wonderland. He's been with the club for 4 years managing the pro shop, where I spent too much time drooling over the fabulous selection of golf goodies. BTW, as an aside...Ka'anapali holds a tent sale every November. I headed there the day I landed on the island and bought 6, count em...6, Jamie Saddock golf shirts for $20 each!

Kathy, who likes all the people she meets in the pro shop, enjoys great hours that let her play the game she loves at least twice a week. Oh my, Kathy...do I want your job!

Kathy wasn't able to join the rest of us golfgals at this year's Turkey Pluck, but plays most of the ladies' monthly events. I've got to get back some year for their Halloween tournament where the carts are decorated for the occasion and where ghosts, witches and bats are your only handicaps when it comes to scoring.

Yes, it's a big mahalo from this golfgal and her golfguy to all the folks at Ka'anapali who made our stay so memorable. For us, Ka'anapali is now our "home away from home" and I'm homesick already for all your friendly faces.

But I'll be back soon, so until next time...

Aloha!
Golfgal

Golf From Paradise to Paris

2012-12-12T18:03:00.001-08:00

As I watched the PGA Tour wind down 2012, it has never been clearer to me that unlike most other sports, golf is a nomad’s game. Every week players travel around the globe to engage in competition with an international field that seems to live out of suitcases.

One week they’re dodging baboons in the Serengeti; the next they are heading to the finish line in the Race to Dubai, before hopping the pond to California where they’ll face a formidable group of world challengers.

But it’s not just the playing professionals that globetrot for work. Teaching professionals are also spreading their wings, bringing their expertise to amateurs and professionals who are looking to take their game to the next level.

Such is the life of Claude Brousseau, Senior PGA Teaching Professional at the Kapalua Golf Academy on Maui and the "2008 Aloha Section PGA Teacher of the Year”. In 2009, Claude became the Director of Coaching and Instruction at Golf Court Academy, the first and only golf school in France dedicated entirely to the short game. Now he spends his winters in paradise and summers in Paris. It just doesn’t get any better than that, eh?

I first met Claude in 2010 at Kapalua where we talked about what LUCK really means – Learning Under Correct Knowledge. After one lesson with Claude, It occurred to me then that he was much more than a swing coach. Claude’s teaching encompasses the entire player – inside and out. I wasn’t surprised to learn that he incorporates many of the philosophies of the co-creators of Vision 54 (Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson,) into his coaching.

Last month I got together with Claude to play some golf at Kapalua and catch up on what’s been happening with him on Maui and in France.

On the “Valley Isle” Claude continues to coach mostly island visitors who return year after year to sharpen their skills with lessons from Claude. They enjoy unlimited practice at Kapalua’s world-class academy and can play the 3 holes at the golf school before they tackle one of the worlds most spectacular and dare-I-say intimidating venues – The Plantation Course – home of the PGA’s first tournament every year, The Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

There is no question that the Plantation Course is a good test of golf. But after playing it a number of times over the past few years, I think it is a better test of your mental fortitude, especially when it comes to putting.

Luckily, Claude’s focus on helping people have more fun in the game goes a long way to making a challenging 4 hours feel like a privilege, rather than a painful reminder that “we’re not good enough to get angry”.

Claude not only teaches you the fundamentals of a golf swing, he teaches you how to “Dance with the one that brung ya!” i.e. Learn how to use what you’ve got to improve your score and have more fun.

You don’t need the perfect swing or hit a perfect shot to enjoy golf. What you need is a repeatable swing that can be adapted to every shot you face on a golf course. Because face it, no two shots are the same.

As Claude explained, “Most people don’t train for that. Sure, we need to have a swing that is fundamentally respecting the laws of physics, but too many people try to groove their swing over and over on the range. But when you groove, you need to move, which is why I enjoy giving playing lessons so I can help people learn to adapt their swing to all the different shots they face on the course.”

Claude also encourages his students to focus more on their short games, especially if they want to play (and putt) well on Maui. Take it from someone who played 20 games of golf in 21 days in November - putting on Maui is difficult. I swear sometimes when putt your ball, it looks like the ball is breaking up hill.

But that’s just an optical illusion. The last thing you want to do is trust your eyes on those grainy greens, which is why Claude teaches people to read putts using the AimPoint Green Reading System. If you have ever watched the Golf Channel and seen that predictive green line showing the path of a correctly putted ball, then you’ve seen AimPoint at work.

Just as a pilot must always trust his instruments even when his eyes tell him something else, AimPoint teaches you how to systematically read greens by paying attention to the things that influence the ball, such as the distance from the hole, the direction and severity of the slope and the angle at which the ball will roll.

AimPoint takes out the guesswork which removes doubt and gives you more confidence on the greens… and a lot fewer 3 putts!

Claude also applies the principals and practices of Vision 54 into his coaching. As Claude explained, “We all know you need to be more confident and committed on every shot. It’s easy to say, but how do you build your confidence; how do you commit on every shot?”

“Vision 54 gives you the programs and exercises you can practice on the range which helps you reach your full potential. This way, it will be easier to transfer your skills to the golf course. You learn to rely more on your senses and feelings; you learn how to identify what you are doing when you are playing so you can repeat it or fix it. For example, you can feel when you are in balance; you can feel when there is tension in your arms or hands.”

“The other thing I like about Vision 54’s approach is that it is all about YOU. Too many people try to swing like to Annika or Rory, but you need to swing like Gayle. Gayle is the expert on Gayle, not Claude, the instructor. Vision 54 helps you know yourself better and know the difference in your body and your mind when you play well or not. It’s all about you.”

In 2009, Claude decided to expand his horizons and take on a personal challenge to create a golf school from scratch and incorporate what he’s learned about the short game from the 10 different golf schools he’s worked with (2 of which were in the top 25 in the US). Together with Jean-Claude Forestier, Claude founded Golf Court Academy in France.

The academy serves golfers of all skills levels from around the world, from beginners who never picked up a club before, to tour players – players like Cassandra Kirkland. Claude has worked with Cassandra for about two years helping her with her putting and management of herself on the golf course. The hard work has paid off -- Cassandra had her first win on tour this past November at the Sanya Ladies Open in China and she finished in 51st position on the LET Order of Merit for the 2012 season.

“Basically if you want to score better, you need to work on your short game,” said Claude. “But the good news is that you can kill two birds with one stone by doing that. Improving your performance within 50 yards will also improve your long swing since they share the same mechanics.”

And, as you might expect, a strong short game helps build confidence as well (that’s that word again ;)) because you know you can recover and save your personal par even after a bad tee shot.

Claude’s mission is to make the Golf Court Academy at Golf PGA France du Vaudreui the teaching facility tour players and professionals call home, especially when the Ryder Cup heads to France in 2018.

So where’s Claude heading next? Stay tuned for future updates on Claude’s travels and golf tips. Next time, I’ll share with you his thoughts on the new Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen, Scotland, and what you need to do to play it well.

Meanwhile, get out and take a journey to find yourself in golf, because as Claude likes to say, “Golf = Game of Life First.”

Golfgal

“A Hui Hou” Ka’anapali!

2012-12-09T14:59:00.002-08:00

Everyone who knows me knows I am in love with Maui. The “Valley Isle” combines the best of modern conveniences with the serenity and beauty of a tropical beach paradise.

And as far as the weather is concerned…let’s just say that the most boring job in the world must be being the weatherman on Maui – every day is the same – perfect!

I just got back from 3 weeks in Nirvana and played golf 20 times. It was pure heaven.   There are a lot of great courses on Maui, but my heart belongs to Ka’anapali.

As a golfgal, I love the fact that Ka'anapali's two courses are very wahine-friendly, offering multiple sets of tees, all of which are "designed-in". i.e.. The forward tees are not "afterthoughts" which patronize higher handicappers – you know the ones where you couldn’t get into trouble if you tried? Ka’anapali is challenging and entertaining from every tee.

The Kai Course is a family-friendly trek for all skill levels with 4 sets of tees from the Lava tees at 6,388 yards to the Hibiscus at only 4,522 yards. And one can’t forget the Keiki tees for the youngsters. I love the fact that I can play two sets of tees on the Kai and feel like I’m playing two completely different courses.

The Royal Course, which was the home of the Champions Skins Game from 2008 to 2011, is the longer and harder of the two, offering 4 tee options from 5,016 yards to 6,700 yards.   You might assume that at just over 5,000 yards the forward tees would be a walk in the park, but you’d be dead wrong.

The elevation changes can distort your depth perception and club selection is a real challenge.   It was not unusual for me to take two extra clubs on par 3s and many approach shots to elevated greens.

The trade winds can play havoc with your ball; the sloping fairways make for “interesting” lies and putting…well, you’d swear your ball was breaking uphill sometimes.

Those 5K yards feel more like 6. But for golf masochists like me, it couldn’t be more fun!

Both courses have some very memorable holes…

Number 7 on the Kai forces a long carry over a deep gulley for all but the most forward tees.

When the wind is blowing (which is 90% of the time) your smack at the ball can turn into a slap in your face. But the nice thing is you can play it from the bottom of the gorge, which we did many a round. Standing at the bottom I recalled the famous words of a Canadian TV kids show icon, The Friendly Giant, who used to start each episode by telling the viewers to, “Look up…Look waaaay up, and I’ll call Rusty”.

It would take me at least 2 more shots to get up to the green from down under because inevitably I would find myself in the very strategically placed and deep bunker that lined the right side of the green. It can be a brutal hole, but the golf gods of Ka’anapali ‘makes it all better’ by giving you one of the most beautiful views off the 8th tee which you can enjoy while licking your 7th-hole wounds.

Of course, it doesn’t take long for you to forget the past as you face a challenging par 5, 8th hole, ranked the hardest hole on the course.

But after two strenuous tests of golf, you are given a reprieve with a much shorter and easier 9th hole, with a stunning view of the Sheraton Hotel and sparkling ocean.

As for the Royal, there are too many memorable images to share in one post, so let me just show you my favorite 3 closing holes in golf.

Hole 16 is a downhill par 4 which makes you think after a tough first 15 holes that, yes, you really can play this game. But first you have to hit the fairway.

Bunkers left and right are well trampled on this hole for good reason. You need to start your ball left because the fairway slopes to the right toward the ocean. But too far left and you’re in the sand.

However, if you don’t aim far enough left you can end up hitting the fairway (nice!) but find your ball trapped right after it rolls endlessly down the slope (not nice!). Robert Trent Jones was a devilish designer!

17 is a short par 3 and the easiest hole on the course. But you have to carry water all the way to a tiny green. You might be tempted to go long to be safe, but that back bunker is tough to get out of without putting the water right back in play.

The finale 18 is a treacherous par 4 – plays long and deadly. Arnold Palmer called it one of the best and most challenging finishing holes he has ever played.

You have a big decision to make on your tee shot – stay right and risk the water or aim left and almost guarantee yourself a very difficult lie in the huge fairway bunker. There really isn’t much room to work with. And depending where they put the pin, you could easily find yourself crossing water again on your approach. Wicked, but wonderful closing hole! 

Before you tee off 18th, you’ll see a rock that identifies the hole. Stop and read what it says, “Hawaiians never say goodbye because goodbye is forever. We at Ka’anapali Golf say, “A Hui Hou” or “Until we meet again.”

It was a magical 3 weeks for us – a working vacation I never wanted to end. Our next golf marathon on Maui can’t come soon enough. And all I can say to all the shots I left out there this past November, “A Hui Hou” Ka’anapali!

Golfgal

Maui...Where the fairways are alive with the sound of...

2012-12-01T16:57:00.003-08:00

Birdies

Bugs

Bees

Bunnies

Beauties

AND

.

Groucho Marx!?

STOP THE FORWARD PRESSES!

I thought I was playing in the Golf Fore Gals (GFG) 5th Annual Maui Ladies Classic Golf Tournament? Wahines... have you never heard of...

"Proper" Dress Code?

Well, it seems that clothing contraventions weren't the only detours from golf's honored traditions. The Rule Book conveniently lost a few pages along the way to the marshall's hands, only to be replaced with new links laws that would make RCGA executives roll over in their bunkers.

Mulleys were for sale (if you knew where to buy them), foot wedges legal and too many players on the field was par for the course in this Turkeyfest.

But all those improprieties only lead to one thing...the best FUNdraising Thanksgiving golf tournament I ever played!

It occurred to me, as I was listening to Julie Andrews (AKA Cheryl Smith) share the "rules"

and lead the golfgals in her unconventional (but truly delightful) rendition of My Favorite Things...

...that this annual event on Maui is definitely one of my favorite things.

Here's how this year's turkey egg scramble went...

1. Every team member was numbered 1 through 4.

2. Each player hit her own ball off the tee.

3. Things got dicey after the 4'th drive left the tee box when one of the golfgals had to draw a number from an envelope which dictated which ball was "in play". All golfers moved to the designated spot and played best ball from there to the hole.

4. But that's not all; there were two other tricksters in the envelope...

A "gobbler" who saved our turkey bacon when it allowed us to choose the best of the 4 tee shots
A "tart" that hurled a pumpkin pie in our faces, forcing us to play the worst of the tee shots.

Surely that's enough shenanigans for one tournament, right? Nope!!! Secreted away in the bowels of our golf cart was a pilgrim who could be called upon once per player in the round to foot wedge a ball into a prettier position or throw the sucker as far forward as her pitching arm could toss it.

Sadly, our Pilgrim's Progress got progressively worse the more she imbibed the swing oil she discovered in our basket while we were busy making shots NOT "heard around the world". She got so tipsy she started transplanting our ball from a tricky lie to an unplayable one. :-(

But it was a glorious day, made even more entertaining by the wahines who made up my team.

Deadly Desiree holed a ton of clutch putts with her magic wand.

Short Grass Sandy kept us in the fairway throughout the day with her consistency off the tee (which was a good thing since we seemed to keep drawing her number from the envelope).

Amazing Andra was our designated driver; can that girl smack em or what! She can also hang loose "shaka" from her fingertips to her toes!

Meanwhile, I tried to play my part by bribing a PGA Professional to hit my tee shot on a long par 3 to within 10 feet from the pin, which lead to a much-needed birdie.

But the fun didn't stop there. The evening was full of great food, great prizes (every single player took home an award), great music by Kaleo, and a great silent auction where I walked home with best trophy of all - a flag from the 2008 Masters (generously contributed by Pat and Paul Betts who owned one of my favorite golf shops on the island - Hawaii Golf and Tennis in Lahaina).

My new priceless treasure is covered with world class signatures including the king himself, Arnold Palmer.

Until next year ladies...Mahalo for making my Maui vacation so special.

And a very special thanks to my golf pal, Diane Fru of Golf Fore Gals,

who works tirelessly every year to make this the tournament the "must play" event on Maui; she also generously donates its proceeds to a very worthy cause - Maui Economic Opportunity Inc.

Diane runs numerous chapters of her Golf Fore Gals in British Columbia and now has one in Maui, where she organizes lots of fun group outings at courses around the island every month.

Open to golfers of all skill levels, GFG a terrific way to learn the game, have tons of fun and make new friends. I highly recommend that you check out their website and sign up for 2013.

Last year Golf Fore Gals stormed The Dunes at Maui Lani to see who could shoot craps on the course, without crapping out.

This year at Kahili, it was all about Poultry, Pumpkins and Pilgrims.

Next November 16, 2013 at Wailea Blue, the theme of the noon shotgun event will be Rock 'n Roll where the GFGs will no doubt be shaking all over (I just hope they don't trigger an eruption of Haleakala). I'm already dusting off my blue suede golf shoes for the occasion.

Aloha!
Golfgal

* Photos generously contributed by Photographer, Robert Smith (robert@smith.bc.ca)

Great Gobbling Golf!

2012-11-21T12:15:00.003-08:00

It's almost Turkey Time and golfers are already getting in the "plucking spirit".

Last week the ladies of Ka'anapali Resort invited all golfgals on the island (locals and tourists), to enjoy a friendly round of gobbling golf to celebrate and give thanks for all that we have.

It was a great gift for all visitors like me who only had to pay the special Ladies League rate to enjoy 18 holes of spectacular golf on a gorgeous course on Maui - Ka'anapali Kai.

Ka'anapali Kai 11th Hole - Par 3

The format this year was quite unique. There were about 10 or so teams of 4 wahines, where each golfer played her own ball, and the best score for each hole was recorded. No surprises there.

But there was a 5th player on each team -- an unfortunate turkey we chicks needed to shoot to win the big prize. Poor birdie was dressed with numbers 2 through 5 on its tail feathers.

The goal for each team was the pluck all the feathers off the bird as fast as possible by shooting each of those scores on any of the 18 holes (only 1 pluck per hole allowed), which meant we needed to make a few birdies and eagles to win; and we needed to make them fast!

I knew I had some hens who could pluck on my team when we shot the first feather off our turkey on the first hole.

Left to Right: Diane Fru, Linda McLean, Golfgal, Lindsay Wilkinson

But sadly we were stuck with a not-so-friendly feathered fifth who seemed to know exactly how to fowl our shots. I don't know what a triple bogey is called, but for me it's now a Turkey!

Lindsay and I spent more time at the beach than on the green stuff. And as our GolfForeGals fearless leader Diane Fru proclaimed, "If it weren't for bad luck, we'd have no luck at all!"

And then there was Linda and her ability to bulls-eye any target on the course - even those she wasn't aiming at. Diane and I almost lost a few feathers ourselves when Linda's ball suddenly turned into a heat-seeking missile, ricocheting off our golf cart on the 16th hole. And her target practice didn't stop there; on the very next hole she took out a keiki tee off the fairway with a 3 wood, at which point, Diane professed, "Our turkey is really goosed now!" LOL!!!

But all in all, it was a glorious day, ending with prizes, delicious pupus and wine tasting (by the glass, not by the sip :)).

The next ladies' open event like this is on December 20th. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make that one from Vancouver (I can't hit that far ;)), but I expected the theme will have something to do with being "stuffed".

Mahalo Ka'anapali Resort for a terrific tournament!

And until next November, to my gobbling golfgals... May the wind be at your back and not your golf partner with a 3 wood in her hands. ;)

Aloha!
Golfgal
Ps: Many thanks to Annie from Ka'anapali Resort for the event pictures!

Kicking "Aces" in Ka'anapali

2012-11-14T22:35:00.001-08:00

Monday, November 12, 2012 -- the official statutory holiday in Canada for remembering and giving thanks to those brave men and women who fight for our freedoms and safety.

As an army brat, Remembrance Day brings back fond memories of times with my dad, a veteran of two wars, a career soldier and avid golfer. He taught me how to drive, golf and yell at bad referees on TV :) He passed away in 2008, but I still think of him every day, especially when I'm on the golf course.

But this Remembrance Day was even more special as I was able to witness my Golfguy score his first hole-in-one after 20 years of playing this game that normally beats us up. And it couldn't have happened in a more wonderful venue - the Kai Course at Ka'anapali, Maui.

The trade winds were really blowing that day (hard to keep our hats on!) and at least one extra club was needed. I watched as he picked up his trusty 4 iron, thinking that's too much club for this 167 yard shot, but he said that he had the "right number" and so I couldn't really interfere.

When he hit his ball, I saw it fly high and right assuming he'd miss the green. But then the ball started to move left towards the ocean, hitting the front edge of the green and rolling towards the pin way in the back. There was a little ridge in the middle of the putting surface so I couldn't see the ball after it stopped rolling so we really didn't know where it ended its journey.

I proceeded to hit my shot and was delighted to see that I would be dancing. But as I walked up to the hole, I felt badly as my Golfguy's ball was nowhere to be seen. I assumed that it rolled off the back (as balls have been known to do with these tricky, grainy Bermuda greens). When he couldn't see his ball and started searching for it in the rough, I joked it was probably in the hole.

Now, I always check the cup when I'm playing golf in Maui, looking for the "burn" - that rough edge that tells you which way the grass is growing. It makes a huge different on these greens, so I never putt without knowing the direction of the grain. Otherwise I may find myself putting from on the green to off it.

When I looked down at the hole, wouldn't you know it - the Ka'anapali logo was staring me right in the face! I looked up at my Golfguy and roared, "You did it - You Kicked Aces in Ka'anapali!" He was stunned. No fist pump...No woohoo! He just stood there looking at me. I did get him to pose for a picture, but even then, his smile wasn't showing any teeth. What's up with that!? If it were me, I’d be hooting and hollering so loudly they would have heard me back in Vancouver! Oh well...

We got to the next hole and he stepped up to the tee box and stood looking down the fairway. There was a single playing ahead of us, but he was well out of range of our tee shots. So I asked my Guy, "What's wrong? You can't hit that far." He said nothing - he just waited.

When he finally did hit his drive, it went 30 yards farther than I've ever seen him hit, landing right where the player was previously standing. LOL! He knew he had adrenaline running through his veins and his body said, "Wait". Good play Golfguy!

Later that night I asked him about his ace, his choice of club and his comment about the “right number”. He reminded me of our conversation over dinner the night before with our friends Claude Brousseau and Anne-Marie Dugré.

Claude is an award-winning teaching professional at the Kapalua Golf Academy on Maui and Director of Instruction at Golf Court Academy in France.

“Claude said to me… ‘What’s your number? Know what it is, know how far you hit each club, choose the right club for you and then commit’,” explained Charles. “Well there was a lot going on. First, the winds were howling right to left at about 15-20 mph; they had moved the tees up from the normal 187 yards to 167 that day and the pin was way in the back right. I knew my 4-wood which I used on previous days was too much club, but my standard 6-iron would not stand up in the wind. I thought about taking a 5-iron, but I was worried my ball would end up in the right bunker. So I grabbed by 4 iron, aimed 10 yards right of the pin so the wind would take it to the green and hit it hard. And all the ‘right numbers’ came together perfectly!”

When I told Claude about Charles’ accomplishment and his part in making it all possible, he was as excited as we were, “Every golf shot makes someone happy; today it was Charles!” said Claude. “Enjoy this great game and Realize your Golfing Potential!"

Yes, it was a magical day for us at Ka'anapali. We have 10 days left before we have to return home. We'll play every day until we leave in our efforts to stock up and carry home some Aloha moments that will hold us through the dark, wet Vancouver winter.

Brrr…I can already feel the chill of the not-so-great-white-north. I think when I finish this post I’ll check out flights for our return in the spring. I may not have a hole-in-one on my score card yet, but I know a “right number” when I see it – for me it’s 86F/30C.

Aloha!
Golfgal

Golf isn't hard - it's just terrifying

2012-10-26T17:07:00.002-07:00

Have you ever stood over a 3-foot putt for birdie and had your hands shake so bad that you thought you'd drop the club?

Have you ever experienced the Fear Uncertainty and Doubt that comes the moment you realize you are facing the hardest shot in golf - the one right after a sh__k!

Do you wonder if you'll ever stop feeling naked on the first tee?

Well, that's why this sadistic sport terrifies even the greatest athletes in the world.

Do you think that Charles Barkley's swing is a result of anything but fear?

You don't become "One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History" without having pretty darn good hand-eye coordination. Check out his swing on the range...

So the MVP winner can swing a golf club - off course - but can't perform on course when all he has to do is hit a little white stationary ball with a big fat club! Shocking to those who don't golf. But to those of us masochists who enjoy golf's regular dose of saddism, the sport is not only hard, it's what nightmares are made of.

Speaking of nightmares, imagine what it would feel like to pull out your driver on the 12th hole at the San Juan Hills Golf Club in California, start your pre-shot routine and have it interrupted by a tiger shark making a crash landing on the tee! It's not as crazy as it sounds; it almost happened this week. The only part that's not true - no one was teeing off at the time the shark dropped in for a visit. But imagine if YOU had! ;)

There is a lot to be afraid of on a golf course. In Arizona you've got your rattlesnakes - definitely hazards to be avoided at all costs. True story...Friends of ours were playing in Scottsdale when the wife was bitten by a rattler. The scariest part is that the golf club had no snake bite kit (I find that so hard to believe), so the husband had to rush her to the hospital. Lesson to Golfgal...pack a snake bite kit on your next trip to Phoenix.

Another true story...Once when my golfguy and I were playing up at Nicklaus North in Whistler, we were teeing off on a par 3 when a momma bear and her two cubs wanted to play through.

I was sitting in the golf cart screaming at my golfguy to get off the tee box. He was NOT happy and he told me to "shhhhsh!" so he could start over his pre-shot routine and hit his ball.

Momma Bear was only about 20 feet away when he finally got in and drove to the green. I was about to throw up; he was laughing. Bears in BC are nothing to laugh about. There are so many of them that if they were a city, they'd be the 2nd largest city in the province. Lesson to Golfgal...buy a bear horn!

And for those who live in alligator alley in Florida, my advice to you is that when you see any kind of reptile on or near a putting surface, take a two stoke penalty and head to the next tee box.

Yes, golf is a terror-able game, which is why I'm surprised there isn't a new golf movie coming out this month. After all, isn't this the time of year for horror flicks? :)

Haha...Happy Halloween all you crazy golf ghouls and gals!

Golfgal

Thank Heaven for Golf!

2012-10-10T21:15:00.001-07:00

Thanksgiving in Canada always sneaks up on me and I'm never ready for it. It spells the end of summer and the beginning of 9 months of rain up here in Vangroovy, BC. Sigh...

I suppose I should be happy it's not in November like it is in the US -- the 11th month is usually so bad weather-wise up in the great white north that few people can find much to be thankful for. Hey, maybe that's why it's earlier for Canucks - there is always hope for some good weather in October. In November...it's hopeless!

This past weekend we got lucky - probably the best TG weekend in the last 10 years. Sunny, warm and dry - perfect golf weather.

As I zig zagged around 18 holes of heaven with my new clubs, I started thinking about how thankful I am for golf. By the time I reached the 19th, I had a pretty substantial list of merci beaucoups.

Here are my top 10...

Thank you Golf for:

1. Giving me a lifelong pleasure that I can indulge in today with my golfguy (and hopefully in eternity -- there just have to be golf in heaven!).

You know what they say, "Those who play together, stay together". It is absolutely true. We are not only partners in life, we are best golf buddies. I can't imagine life without playing match play with him for a week of household chores or that new pair of Eccos I've been dying to buy.

2. Giving me a bucket list. It's chocked full of courses around the world. I'll never be bored in retirement as we'll be too busy hopping from one fairway to the next. And we won't stop until we're under the turf instead of over it. You might want to add this one to your bucket list...

3.  Giving me a chance to fulfill my passion for writing. Working full-time pays for wine and golf, but steals precious hours that could be better spent writing the book I've always wanted to publish. I already have the title I think would sell: "18 Shades of Green" - ;) WDYT?

It will be a few years before I have the time for this passion, but golf has given me inspiration to write about golf, so here I am!

4.  Ensuring I'm never at a loss for words at boring business functions. There's always someone who golfs at these events. When I arrive, I just "work the room" and look for those with that fair-away look in their eyes, so I can pass the rest of the evening talking shots instead of talking shop.

5. Giving me another excuse to shop for more shoes :)

6.  Creating memories I'll cherish forever...like playing golf with my dad before his stroke, or watching my M-I-L birdie the 10th hole at our local course when she was in her 80's!

7. Giving me a reason to get out of bed early on a sunny Saturday morning (to play golf) or a reason to stay in bed and drink coffee on a rainy Saturday morning (to watch the European Tour).

8. Great friends I would never have otherwise met. My closest friends in Vancouver are those I met on the first tee.

9. Golf getaways. See #2 above (Yes...we've already started...)

10. Getting me out of my office chair where I have a tendency to work work work. Golf gives me a reason to play play play!

To quote one of baseball's best...Chico Escuela, "~~Baseball~~ Golf has been berry berry good to me".

And as the First Tee kids say on TV, "If it wasn't for golf, I'd be like my friends - a couch potato" :)

Thank you Golf - you are a life saver and... a friend for life!

Golfgal

My Ryder Cup Dream Teams

2012-09-28T12:01:00.001-07:00

The Ryder Cup is finally here! Woohoo!

The best golf event in the world kicked off at 8 AM EST with two pull/hooks from veteran players, McDowell and Furyk. No harm was done as McIlroy and Snedeker came to their rescue, but it was great to see that these guys may be good, but they are also human. :)

I have been thinking a lot about the teams this year and seeing 4 rookies on the US side (all great and accomplished players), I started to wonder if they were going to be able to perform under pressure they've never experienced before. Being a great player is less important than being a great Ryder Cup player this weekend and I hope they have the nerves for it.

I got to thinking about dream teams. You know how people always ask you who your fab foursome might be? Well, what if we were able to pick dream teams for the USA and Europe using players living or dead? Who would your dream teams be?

Here are mine...

You may be asking how I chose these and where's Ben Hogan? He never lost a match! His point % is 100. Well that's true, but Ben only played 3 matches and that didn't seem quite enough for me. I chose my teams based on this criteria:

They had to have played more than a handful of matches, which is why Rory missed "the cut" having only played 4 (I'm sure he'll make next year's dream team after this week's play :))
Their point percentage had to be at least 50% which would leave out Tiger.

So I broke rule #2 and replaced J.C. Snead (11 matches; 80%) with Tiger. Now Tiger's never really proven to be a great Ryder Cup player because he "doesn't play well with others", but I can't imagine a team without him. And because I needed to put a good partner with him I decided to drop in Stricker. Walter Hagen (7-1-1; 83%) obviously was a good choice for the team, but I just didn't think Tiger would partner well with Sir Walter and his somewhat outrageous antics.

In looking at my teams, it is interesting to note that the only "Dream Team" players in this year's US dozen are Tiger and Stricker. Meanwhile, on the European side, there are five! Hmmm...I wonder if this is why the odd makers have Europe taking the cup home by quite a margin.

But the beauty of the Ryder Cup is "anything can happen", so let's forget the bookies, cheer on the rookies and set ourselves up for an exciting 3 days that Captain Love so eloquently described as "not a war". What a class act he is!

I don't know about you, but I'm a couch potato for the next 72 hours. Pass the popcorn!

Golfgal

The 5 P's of Ryder Cup Fever

2012-09-17T19:47:00.000-07:00

As a marketing consultant I am always referring to the 5 P's of a good marketing plan/campaign in my work: Product, Price, Place, Promotion and People.

But when Ryder Cup Fever hits me as strongly as it has this year, I'm thinking more about these 5 P's:

Passion

Pride/Patriotism

Players

Pairings

Pressure

Passion

Is there any event in golf that brings out the passion more than the Ryder Cup? Fedex Cup - Not even close! President's Cup - Yawn! Solheim Cup - Sorry ladies, not even with the face painting.

Ryder Cup buzz, excitement and thrills are 2nd to none.

Of course, all individual golfers are passionate about their singular games (if fist pumps are any indication), but when you put the players into those two RC teams something magical happens. The amount of passion is far greater than the sum of the individual hearts. You can almost feel the energy through the TV.

And then there are those heart-wrenching moments which make you believe in a power greater than yourself. How Darren Clarke ever managed to play so brilliantly in 2006 after the death of his wife I'll never understand.

And let's not forget the flip side of the same coin - the pain. Will Hunter Mahan ever be allowed to redeem himself after that disastrous chip shot in 2010? Sadly, not this year. Even with two wins in 2012, his lackluster play later in the season did not gave Davis Love III the confidence to make him a Captain's Pick.

Pride/Patriotism

I have heard some say that the Euro's are more patriotic in terms of "being a team" than the Americans, but that's hogwash! Sure, their bonds of friendships are forged throughout their years on tour as they often travel together to other foreign countries. But each player on the USA team feels as much pride and personal responsibility when playing for his country (AND his team).

As a Canadian I love that I can enjoy both teams without taking sides. Instead, I cheer by pairings and players. When Stricker, Watson or Snedeker are playing this month, I'll be cheering for them. When McIlroy, Poulter or McDowell play, my best wishes will go their way. If any of these are playing each other, I feel somewhat schizophrenic - I hop back and forth. But in the end, I'm happy because one of my faves will always win (or tie).

I will not cheer, however, for anyone carrying a long putter. Sorry folks, but that's where I draw the line.

Players

Personalities like Poulter and Garcia, who relish the camaraderie and competition, are what make the Ryder Cup so much more fun than standard stroke play events. And who could ever forgot Boo Weekley's Giddeeup in 2010...Priceless!

Pairings

I love trying to figure out what strategies each captain will use when choosing his Captains Picks and Pairings. Blunders have been known to happen (e.g. putting Phil and Tiger together), but even those disasters are fun to watch in a sadistic sort of way.

It must be hard pairing Tiger with anyone actually. He's not exactly known for being a "team player", unless of course, you're taking about "Team Tiger". But Stricker seems to be a good foil for him and brings out the occasional smile, which lights up the TV (and announcers).

Meanwhile, Westwood and Clarke were a match made in Ryder Cup Heaven! I am sad that Darren wasn't able to make the team even with his Open win in 2011.

I'm also sad that Fowler wasn't chosen this year. He didn't have the best performance in 2010, but he was a lot of fun to watch.

But it's hard to argue with Captain Love's logic in his choices. I hope Rickie does what Sergio did last time - join the team as an assistant to Love. His energy and attitude would really ad value to the team.

Pressure

Even the best players in the world have succumbed to the pressure of the Ryder Cup, collapsing in what they hoped to be their finest hour.

Mark Calcavecchia's surrender of his 4 hole lead to end up tied with Monty in 1991, and Langer’s 6-foot putting calamity that cost him his win that same year will never be forgotten by fans and pundits, but more importantly by the players themselves. I wonder how long the nightmares lasted for them or if they still wake up in a cold sweat.

Less than two weeks to find out who will create the most lasting memories of this year's Cup. Regardless of who wins. I just took a look at the 2012 Ryder Cup Odds and they're showing the European's winning at 11/8. That kind of surprises me given it's on US soil and the US have a pretty strong team this year.

I just hope it comes down to the final hour to keep the buzz going all weekend, and that all the players and captains walk away proud of themselves, their team and their countries. But if one or two slip up and demonstrate that they are not infallible, it can only add to the excitement of this year's event and create lasting memories for us to take to 2014.

Golfgal

Photo credits: Gontzal
Video credit: Rob

Getting ahead of yourself in golf is a hazard to your game.

2012-08-12T12:10:00.003-07:00

There's an old saying that "Practice Makes Perfect", but we know that is just not true. "Practice Makes Permanent" which is why our golf games are chocked full of bad habits.

One of my worst habits is looking up too soon. Instead of keeping my eyes down as I swing through, I very often take a peek and pay for it by pushing my ball right. This happens on every club in my bag and when it really gets out of hand, it can end up in a dreaded sh--k.

Last week I was playing a friendly round of golf with my golfguy and the best darn coach ever in Vancouver, Ginny Golding. She was watching him warm up and I saw her give him a tip. As she was demonstrating how to connect with the ball, I noticed that her head was behind her arms as she swung through. Her arms were way into her follow-through before her head ever came up.

Soon my golfguy was imitating her and the results were impressive.

I decided to try that with my 3 wood since it is my favorite club in my bag, but it had been misbehaving of late, cutting far too much. It was amazing what a difference it made. Not only were my shots straighter, they were longer than ever.

I knew peeking on a putt would push it right, but it never really occured to me how much peeking affected my longer shots.

On Friday I played my next round of golf and promised myself that I was going to practice that move on every shot. Did I? On the front nine, yes, and it was great.

As I made the turn I felt wonderful, but then I made the big mistake of adding up my score. It was the best 9 I had ever played on that course. I was so excited I started thinking about how I was going to break my record on the course that day.

The next 3 holes were Triple Bogey, Double Bogey, Double Bogey. There went the best round of my life! ARG!!!

By the time the 12th hole was over I was completely deflated and said to myself, "Well, no use in trying to score now; you'll never break 85 today, Golfgal!"

While waiting to drive my ball off 13, it occurred to me that I had not practiced my tip of keeping my head behind the ball on my follow-through. So I stepped up on the the tee and focused on that tip again, nailing my drive down the fairway - best shot I'd had in 3 holes.

And I'm sure you know what happened next...Yup...you guessed it - better golf and a lot more fun the rest of the day.

When I got home I thought about my round and how I wasn't playing "one shot at a time" on those 3 bad holes and I wasn't "staying in the moment". How many times have we heard players say that? I always thought of those phrases as typical golf cliches that everyone says for the media but no one actually believes them.

But then I remembered a book I had read a while ago about staying in the moment -- The Practicing Mind by Thomas Sterner. As soon as I pulled it off my bookshelf, I knew I must have liked it when I saw all the dog eared pages in it.

I started flipping through those dogged pages again and discovered gems of wisdom that I decided to write down and put into my bag as my 15th club. Here are a few you might want to consider for yourself...

1. Process NOT Product

When you focus your mind on what you are doing right now (Process), you free yourself up from chasing your goal (Product) and take away the pressure of achieving it. This is liberating and leads to better performance as all your energy is directed towards the present moment - that one swing you are performing right now.

2. There is no destination in life (golf); life (golf) is the destination.

This is really part of #1, but I love the expression because it made me realize my "results oriented" nature is not helping me enjoy my life or my golf game. Goals are great and we should make goals in our lives (and golf), but think of them as the rudder to help you steer your efforts, not judge yourself against them.

3. Do, Observe, Correct (DOC)

When performing any task like a golf shot, you need to execute the shot, observe without emotion what happened to determine the cause and then make the necessary corrections. Do not confuse evaluation with judgement. Evaluation is non-threatening and non-emotional; judgement always leaves you feeling like a failure.

4. "Here's where the fun begins!"

When faced with challenges we often let our fears and bruised egos get in the way of our performance. Instead, say to yourself, "Here's where the fun begins!" and let go of the baggage that holds you back from focusing on the process and performing to your true potential.

A friend of mine who is blind was having a tough 9 holes on the golf course one day. At the turn he thought maybe a beer might help him, but instead he said to his caddie/coach, "Starting on the 10th hole, I am going to smile at the ball." And he did that for the rest of the round. That was his way of saying "Here's where the fun begins" and his back 9 score reflected his new attitude with a much better score.

These are just 4 gems that really spoke to me. There are many more and I highly recommend you get a copy of The Practicing Mind and discover your favorites.

Develop a practicing mind and learn to tell when a flower is perfect. It might surprise you when that is (but you need to read the book to find out the right answer ;)).

Enjoy!
Golfgal

Do passionate golfers have addictive personalities?

2012-07-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

It's a big week ahead for me. My golfguy and I have a bet going on right now and I'm looking to cash in on his weakness for the better things in life.

A lover of really expensive scotch, my golfguy was recently delighted to receive a surprise birthday gift from a dear friend. She picked it up from the "locked vault" in our local liquor store (yup, it's so expensive, you can't buy it off the shelf). It still boggles my mind how something that tastes so bad could cost so much.

When he opened the gift and discovered the liquid gold I could see by his expression as he sniffed the aroma that wafted from the bottle, that this treat was going to last about as long as my last birdie run. So I decided to exploit his unabashed joy by making him a bet that the bottle would be empty before the next full moon.

IF he wins, he wants another bottle of scotch. HA!

But WHEN I win, I haven't got a clue what to get. Obviously it will be golf related. But my golf wish list is huge and it's impossible for me to choose just one thing. If expensive scotch is his addiction, shopping for golf stuff is mine.

Now, I'm not a complete "B", so I'll look for deals and use this TGW coupon to save him some dough. And I'll try to get free shipping to save him even more, but still...how can I buy just one thing? For me, golf clothes, shoes and equipment are like peanuts -- you can't just have one.

We golfers are a strange breed, don't you think? I truly believe that those of us who really have a passion for the game have an addictive personality. I recently read this definition of addiction:

"The condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in something. A habitual or compulsive involvement in an activity."

Yup...that's me and golf!

But beyond golf, I love to shop, travel and drink fine red wine - three things I do habitually. Hmm...when does habit become an addition? I guess it's when you crave the habit so much, you sacrifice other important things in order to fulfill your craving.

So let's take a look at my habits and score them on a scale of 1 to 5 (where 5 is totally addicted).

Red wine: I will sacrifice dessert and even chocolate so I can have another glass of wine at dinner (counting calories and all that crap!) Addiction Score: 5

Travel: I often book my next trip before the trip I'm on is finished. This gets pretty expensive when I get home and realize that my spontaneity wasn't well thought out -- Say hello to change fees and lost deposits! Addiction Score:5

Golf: I am embarrassed to admit that I have often sacrificed time with non-golfing friends so I can sneak away to the golf course. Shhh...don't tell them. Thankfully they don't read this blog ;) Addiction Score: 5

Online shopping: No one loves to click here more than I do. Sure, I enjoy wandering outlet malls with my friends, but there's nothing better than finding a great deal online and fulfilling that urgent need to have it - even when I don't need it. I have more golf shirts, shorts and shoes than I'll ever wear. But I have a solution to that - every 6 months I send most of them to the Sally Ann so I can buy more. Addiction Score: 5

WOW! What can I say? Not much actually...it's not really a surprise to me. But it's also not something I want to dwell on.

So I think I'll grab a glass of red wine, book a tee time for tomorrow, and then browse the web for a new pair of funky Ecco spikeless shoes or a new driver that my golfguy is going to buy me very soon :).

I'd look for a travel deal too, but that would be silly since I booked my August golf trip to Maui when I was last there in June ;)

Bottoms up Babe!
Golfgal

Photo credits:
© Sydney Van Rensburg | Dreamstime.com
© Vanilladesign | Dreamstime.com

Marcela Leon Rules Supreme on Big Break Atlantis!

2012-07-27T12:15:00.002-07:00

WOW! That's all I can really say after watching Marcela Leon win the finale of Big Break Atlantis this week. WOW!

Not only did she have the game to take down one of the hottest players in the series, she did it calmly and patiently. Just like a Pro!

Made me think of Ernie Els last weekend who patiently waited to win his first major since 2002.

Marcela has been a pro for 10 years and has waited too long to lift her prized trophy. But when she did, she did it in style. 5 up with 4 to play...WOW!

I can't wait to watch her tee it up in the big leagues at the LPGA Kingsmill Championship, Sept. 6-9.

And I'm sure the rest of the prizes will only help to make her a shoe-in next year as a full-time LPGA'er.

$50,000 in cash
Endorsement contract from Adams Golf, which includes another $10,000 in cash
$10,000 shopping spree from Dick’s Sporting Goods
$10,000 Avis car-rental credit courtesy of Avis Car Rental
Full exempt status and all entry fees waived for a Symetra Tour season

And to help her relax before the big season begins...an all-expense paid return trip for two to Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas -- which is only fair since she never got a chance to really enjoy it like the eliminated ladies did in their time off.

Marcela joined me this AM to close off the show with one final interview on her win, the reunion in Florida and where she's headed next...

My sincere thanks goes out to Marcela, Natalia and Anya for taking the time to chat with me each week.

Best of luck to all of you in following your dreams and an extra special wish for success at Kingsmill, Marcela - we'll be watching!

Of course this blog would not be complete without Blue Falcon's final commentary. Thank BF for all your input in the weekly posts!

Golfgal

Big Break Atlantis Episode 11: “X Marks the Spot”
by: Blue Falcon

It’s the championship match, what I and other Big Break fans have been waiting for. Sadly, the match was a bit anti-climactic, as Marcela Leon dominated Selanee Henderson by a 5-4 final score. It wasn’t sad to see Marcela win; I would have been happy with either woman winning. But it was sad that Selanee wasn’t able to put up the kind of effort that we have seen from her previously.

Rather than go through a minute dissertation of what happened, here is a thumbnail analysis of the final match:

Selanee Henderson: No player fought as hard as Selanee did to reach the final match going through, and surviving, five elimination challenges. That, however, may have also been her downfall, as Selanee admitted that she simply lacked the energy to put up much of a fight in this episode. Selanee, however, has no reason to let her head drop. She represented herself well both on and off the course and hopefully will go on to a great career and life.

Marcela Leon: Probably the most deserving champion IMO since Bernadette Luse and Haymes Snedeker won Big Break X-Michigan. In addition to her strong play on the course, what I will remember most about Marcela was the way she presented herself. She was always gracious, win or lose, and she comported herself with class and grace, something we haven’t always seen from contestants on this show. Brava, Marcela! Brava!

P.S. Next week there is a reunion episode of “Big Break Atlantis” where hopefully we will have the ladies dish on what happened. I look forward to that.

You're Invited to the 2012 Golf Fore Gals Extravaganza

2012-07-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

For any golfgal who loves to have fun on the links and just happens to be in Vancouver September 22, 2012, you won't want to miss The Best Darn Ladies Golf Tournament EVER where the theme is Golf Fashions Throughout the Ages.

Come dressed from your favourite era from wool jackets and ties, to long skirts to polyester pants to mini skirts or even loudmouth shorts. Prizes will be given for the best costumes.

Your fun-packed day will include:
18 Holes of golf at Greenacres Golf Club in Richmond in a creative, fun format suitable for all golfing abilities
Snack lunch & 3 course dinner
Gift bags for everyone
Prizes, prizes and more prizes
Putting contest using BC Golf Museum vintage putters
Hole Sponsors and on-course contests
Silent auction with eye-popping goodies
On-course photographer

Book now to secure a spot for you or your foursome. Don’t miss out on all the goodies and great golf.

Register now: www.golfforegals.com

Big Break Atlantis 10: No Glory YET for Gloriana

2012-07-18T10:23:00.005-07:00

What a great 10th episode of Big Break Atlantis! I love it when the Golf Channel brings back contestants to try their luck again.

Of course, I was naturally excited to see Anya and Natalia back, but it was also fun to see many of the others who exited so quickly we hardly got to know them.

Shannon was one who I was particularly interested in seeing play again. And obviously Marcela thought she had game to pick her as the first member of her team.

Gloriana's team victory looked like the catalyst for some glory days ahead, but alas, that was not to be the case. Even with Marcela cheering her on, Gloriana couldn't put a dent in Selanee's solid performance and lucky break in the woods.

But she played well and should be proud of what she has accomplished on this Big Break. I wish her the very best in her quest for the LPGA. She's got game and the drive to make it. Gloriana, your glory days are still to come. Hang in there!

Marcela joined me again to talk about her excitement over seeing the ladies come back and how lonely it can get, especially when you're sitting at the top waiting to see what happens next. Nice to hear she put her time on the sidelines watching Gloriana and Selanee to good use...

Natalia joined me this week to share her thoughts about the past few shows and what it was like being brought back for another kick at some cash...

Selanee certainly seems to be on a roll, but with golf as in life, the dice are never predictable. Marcela has been steady throughout the series and seems to have a good handle on her emotions and attitude, which should sustain her and give her an advantage.

Can Selanee hold on through 18 holes? It remains to be seen, but whatever happens, I'll be glued to the TV hanging on to every shot!

Golfgal

Special thanks again to Blue Falcon for his analysis of this week's show and contestant ratings. Quite the complement for Marcela BF! :)

Big Break Atlantis Episode 10: “Daughters of Atlas”
By: Blue Falcon

THEY’RE BACK!!!!!!!!!!! The eliminated 9 contestants from BBA are back-thankfully not to affect the outcome of the show. Instead, they have returned to play a special prize challenge courtesy of Dick’s Sporting Goods. (Got to get those plugs in!)

The challenge: The 3 remaining players, Marcela Leon, Selanee Henderson and Gloriana Soto, will act as team captains. They will each pick 3 players-well; technically Selanee only picks two as she gets the player left over after Gloriana makes her final pick-to participate in this prize challenge.

Each player will hit 2 shots from 4 locations to point circles on the green. In the first 3 rounds, points are singular. In the 4th and final round-and the hardest location-points are doubled. The team with the highest point total after all 4 locations will split $5,000 dollars broken down thusly:
The Winning Team Captain: $2,000.
The other 3 players: $1,000 each.

The Teams:
Team Marcela: Marcela Leon, Shannon Fish, Kelly Villareal, and Allison Micheletti.
Team Gloriana: Gloriana Soto, Christina Stockton, Zakiya Randall, and Aubrey McCormick.
Team Selanee: Selanee Henderson, Anya Alvarez, Natalia Ghilzon, and Meghan Hardin.

1st location: Team Marcela sent out Allison, who scored 5 points-and looks like she’s worked on her tan. Gloriana went out for her team and scored 5 points as well. Selanee batted leadoff for her team and scored 6 points to take an early lead for her team.

2nd location: Marcela went out for her team and picked up 6 points, bringing her team total to 11.
Gloriana sent out Zakiya who added 5 points to the till of Team Gloriana and brought their total to 10. P.S. Zakiya still looks like people should be waving dollar bills at her and shouting “Say My Name!”

Selanee sent out Natalia who struggled to score, gaining only 2 points and a little bit of controversy. Natalia claimed that the ground was wet and that was why she struggled. Selanee wasn’t buying what Natalia was selling and it caused some friction between the two. Unrelated side note: Natalia still has the best hair on this season of Big Break! Team Selanee’s score after 2nd round: 8 points.

3rd location: Team Selanee drafted in Meghan, who was PO’d about being picked last. Meghan, dear, you barely hit any good shots in your episode and you were the first eliminated. You’ve got no kick coming. BTW, LOVED the dress in the interview room! She scored 3 points, bringing Team Selanee’s total to 11.

Team Gloriana sent Aubrey out and Aubrey did well, scoring 5 points. Next up was Shannon for Team Marcela who didn’t do as well as she hoped, coming through with 3 points.
After 3rd stage of prize challenge, the scores were: Team Gloriana, 15 points. Team Marcela, 14 points and Team Selanee, 11 points.

4th and final stage: Double points but also the hardest shot. Anya for Team Selanee and Kelly for Team Marcela both drew the horse collar for their shots, but Christina came through for Team Gloriana with 6 points, earning Team Gloriana the victory and $5,000 cash.

Sadly, this was the high point of Gloriana’s day, because everything after that went pear-shaped.

Gloriana and Selanee faced off in the penultimate elimination challenge: 5 holes of stroke play. The player with the lowest score would face Marcela for the championship of Big Break Atlantis. The loser would join the peanut gallery for the match.

Both players split the first hole in pars, but then the match turned clearly in Selanee’s favor. Gloriana missed her par putt on the second hole, while Selanee made hers. That started the ball rolling downhill for Gloriana, and like Sisyphus and the boulder, she just couldn’t stop the downward spiral. Selanee won the match and moves on to the Championship match against Marcela. It will be a great match.

Now, on to the grades:
Selanee Henderson: Was very good, but not great this week, although she really didn’t need to be great after Gloriana began scuffling in their match. Hit three of four fairways and made two birdies in match vs. Gloriana. Golf score: 8.

Fashion score: as always, Selanee knows how to dress her athletic body on and off the course. Score: 9.

Marcela Leon: Perfect on and off course this week. She made both of her shots in prize challenge.
That, however, is not the big news this week. When I saw Marcela in her interview, all I could say is WOW!!!!! That is the best I’ve seen her look. She looked like a cross between Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Audrey Hepburn. Rock the runway, girlfriend! Score: 10 for golf, 10+++++ for fashion!

Gloriana Soto: Started out strong, picking up 5 points in prize challenge to help her team win $5,000. Then…it all went to h-e-double hockey sticks. She looked great in interview, though. Score: 7 for golf, 9 for fashion.

Next week, it will be for all the marbles. Preview coming soon.