Golfgal

Big Break Atlantis 3: Two Inches too Far for Zakiya

2012-05-30T14:39:00.000-07:00

Another "interesting" turn of events on Big Break Atlantis this week. We saw some good shots, some bad shots and some pretty darn ugly shots, but some of the worst shots (e.g. Gloriana's wasted shots on the first immunity challenge) were hit by golfers who ended up safe, and those who played some great shots (e.g. Zakiya's bunker shot to 3' 3") went home.

They say that golf is a game of inches; sadly the inches were not in Zakiya's favor this week. Seeing Aubrey get inside of her ball by just 2 inches to gain immunity would have made anyone feel sick. And you have to ask yourself, "Is that fair"? No, but golf is not fair - not by any stretch of the imagination.

I will miss Zakiya's spunk (still can't get over her not taking a mulligan with Yani last week) and her style. She'd never be allowed to play in clubs in Vancouver with her outfits, but I love them. I am sad we won't get to see the wardrobe she brought with her for the 2 weeks of filming.

Best of luck Zakiya in your new professional golfing career. If it doesn't work out, I am sure you could do very well in golf fashion design!

Once again I am pleased to have Natalia and Anya with me this week. It was a very stressful day for both of them, so let's hear more about how the day played out...(forgive the audio techincal diffculties with Natalia's interview - headset died :-()

Now Anya's analysis of the day and who she would have chosen for the "faceoff"...

Thanks again ladies for your insights. Same time next week!

Golfgal

Big Break Atlantis 2: No Shame for Shannon

2012-05-23T20:15:00.001-07:00

Week two of Big Break Atlantis was sure full of suprises, eh?

Imagine being one those 3 rejected golfgals, broken hearted because no one picked them for their team, only to have the world's #1, Yani Tseng come in to save the day!

Imagine being on top of the world because you were one of the chosen few who made a team, only to have the rug pulled out from under you!

Imagine being one of the strongest players going into the day's challenges, only to end that day taking the dreaded "walk".

Personally, I found Shannon's exit rather shocking. I thought she would go much farther - she's certainly got talent. There was a reason Zakiya picked her first on her team. And don't forget that in 2011 she ran up four top-4 finishes on the Cactus Tour in her first six events. Not too shabby!

Don't worry Shannon...remember Kristy McPherson took an early walk on her BB and ended up on the LPGA tour and the Solheim Cup team!

But hey...that's what the BB can do to you. Even Yani seemed to feel nervous before her flop shot. I was expecting much better results from her on that shot and subsequent putt, but I guess she's only human too. Another shocker! ;)

Yup...I was surprised a lot on Monday night.

This week I'm happy to have both Anya and Natalia joining me again to talk about "one bad putt", a very lucky "members' bounce" off a tree and cashing in for safety.

Let's hear first from Anya, who shares some cool behind-the-scene moments with Yani...

Next up, Natalia, who has been more of a spectator than competitor so far with her two immunities...

Thanks ladies!

Watching this episode it really hit home to me that golf really does seem to be 90% mental, 1% physical and 9% luck.

I wonder who'll get the luck next week?

Golfgal

The new 15th club in my golf bag is...

2012-05-20T10:18:00.003-07:00

Yoga. Never been a big fan of it. Tried it a few times when I was much younger and discovered that what looks really easy, is actually hard. And I fell over a lot!

Give me some free weights, elastics and a treadmill and I'm fine. Putting me in a room with a bunch of tight young bodies sweating for a hour in stifling heat is like sitting me on the tracks of an oncoming train. My heart races, I panic and my survival instincts yell, "Run for your life!".

But I recently discovered that I was wrong. Wow, did I say that out loud? ;)

Yoga is the 15th club I need to add to my golf bag, if I want to improve all aspects of my game.

What turned me around you ask?

Katherine Roberts, founder and owner of Yoga for Golfers and FlexFit.

I was introduced to Katherine by my friend (and many of yours), Brian Allman -- past owner of Sweet Spot Golf (I still love my sweet 3 and 4 hybrids) and founder of a new social network for kids, Skidekids.

I discovered after talking with Katherine that my fear, uncertainty and doubt about yoga is not uncommon. But if you give it a chance, you will find that the benefits of yoga for your golf game far outweigh your apprehensions.

Check out my interview with Katherine to learn how yoga can improve your golf game and help lower your handicap.

If you want to learn more about Katherine's Yoga for Golfers online programs and classes, as well as her upcoming YFG teacher training certification on the Sunshine Coast, July 12 - 15, check out her website.

I'm off to dust off my yoga mat!

Golfgal

Big Break Atlantis 1: Where 75 yards feels like 250

2012-05-15T18:56:00.002-07:00

It's been almost a year since my last Big Break Indian Wells interview with champion David Byrne and the always entertaining Shank and Carl.

I sadly had to miss BB Ireland due to other commitments, but that only makes this new Big Break Atlantis that much more exciting for me.

As usual the stakes are high with the champion receiving an exception to the 2012 LPGA Kingsmill Championship, an Adams Golf endorsement contract (including $10K cash!), Dicks Sporting Goods $10K shopping spree, Atlantis Vacation for Two, and an Avis car rental credit for $10K. She can drive it all over the USA with her fully exempt status and all entry fees covered for a full season on the Symetra Tour.

Meghan Hardin

Sadly someone always has to be first to leave and it was especially heartbreaking to see the youngest of the 12 take the walk of shame after giving up college golf to play on the Big Break. Remember, all contestants have to be professionals to play.

As Aubrey said during Happy Hour, those 75 yards felt like 250. I am sure Meghan Hardin was feeling every onen of them when she found herself in elimination.

I knew none of this season's contestants, but if the preview show and first episode are any indication of what's coming, I think we're going to be seeing a lot of drama on and off the course.

I knew immediately that I wanted to interview Natalia, given she's a fellow Canuck and friends with David Byrne. And when I heard about Anya's story and saw her on the preview show, I just had to talk to her.

Natalia Ghilzon joins us this week from Windsor, Ontario.

This golfgal had a pretty relaxing time on Day 1 with just a piece of glass standing between her and immunity. It didn't take her long to break through that obstacle and take the rest of the day off.

Sitting on the bench is usually a bad thing in sports, but not on this show. Let's hear what she thought of that experience...

Thanks Natalia!

Golf has been a part of Anya Alvarez her entire life. Her father is a longtime PGA of America teaching professional, and introduced her to the game at age 3.

6 years later, Anya's life was turned upside down. She was sexually abused by a family friend who worked for her father at their home golf course. It took a long time for Anya to dissociate from golf what she went through but through determination and family/friend support Anya is now able to use golf as an outlet instead of seeing it as a source of pain. Quite a young lady, eh?

Let's hear from her about her first day on the Big Break...

Here's more on Anya's story and her work with the KidSafe Foundation. I really encourage you to check it out and do what you can to help this very worthy cause.

Thanks ladies for your insights this week. I look forward to chatting with you next week about the team event where Yani Tseng becomes a ringer for one side. Can't wait to see that!

Golfgal

Get in the Zone with Golf Sense

2012-04-27T16:36:00.002-07:00

It always amazed me that the greatest athletes in the world like Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky find golf difficult. They have to run and throw, or skate and shoot while balls and pucks are flying at lightening speeds, and yet they find hitting a little white stationary ball hard.

But then I read Roy Palmer's book, Golf Sense, and now I know why even the best in the world struggle with this game.

The problem with golf is that we have far too much time to think -- too much time to worry -- too much time to build tension.

There's an old saying, "I think, therefore I am." and this is so true in golf. When you step up to your tee shot (especially on the first tee when everyone is watching), what are you thinking?

I've heard some people say they only carry one swing thought to the tee box. What's yours? If it's about your grip, head position or golf ball then you need to read this book.

You'll discover that focusing on the movement of your ribs as you breathe, or the feel of your toes in your socks, will lead to a better result than all the traditional swing thoughts we golfers carry around the course.

Golf Sense teaches us how to be in the moment and get into that infamous zone, but it does it in a way that one might not expect.

Palmer isn't a golf coach; he's a teacher of The Alexander Technique -- a system which helps you feel better, and move in a more relaxed way... the way nature intended. It's a method for getting rid of bad habit patterns that interfere with smooth performance. It gets rid of tension. And we all know tension is a killer in golf.

The moment I picked up this book, I knew I was going to learn something I hadn't learned before (and believe me...I read a lot of golf books).

It's chocked full of unusual exercises and "experiments" to help you unlearn a lot of conditioned reflexes that get in our way.

Try falling asleep. Useless right? The harder we try, the more sleep eludes us. Instead, forget about falling asleep and just create conditions where sleep will just happen. The same is true in golf.

So how do you create those conditions? Well, the first thing is for you to read this book and practice some of the exercises and experiments Palmer offers up.

Be aware of things you normally ignore (like the breeze on your face, or my favorite...the space between your upper and lower teeth). When you think about those things, you create a relaxed golfer who is living in the moment. From there, the zone is not far away.

Golf Sense isn't a book you can just read once and put down. It's a small book and a pretty quick read, but it's full of practice lessons you can't absorb all at once. You need to do your homework and practice being in the moment, on and off the course. The more you practice that, the better you'll be in life and in golf.

Practice makes permanent, not perfect; and we've had years practicing bad posture, bad walking, sitting and thinking. It's time to undo all those conditioned reflexes and get our mind and body back on track. At my age, I have a lot of work to "undo", but I'm excited about the possibilities.

I highly recommend you check out Golf Sense. It might not win you a green jacket, but it will give you something to think about besides that last hook or slice; and that "something" may just be what you need for your next come back tomorrow shot.

Golfgal

Big Sky Golf Getaway with Sandra Post and Ginny Golding

2012-04-18T19:52:00.002-07:00

Every year I get away with some wonderful golfgals who love the game almost as much as I do. This year is no exception and I'm heading to the Okanagan in May with 20+ ladies of the links to play some of the best courses BC has to offer, including Predator Ridge's new Ridge Course which was named Best new Course in Canada 2010 by SCOREGolf.

Image Courtesy of Predator Ridge Golf

I can't wait!

The only problem with that weekend away is that I can't bring my golfguy with me. He's my best golf buddy, so I really want to find some great golf escapes that include him this year.

Luckily my golf coach extraordinaire, Ginny Golding, is also in the golf travel business, Along with the SOLD OUT Okanagan trip I mentioned above, she has put together an amazing list of golf trips for singles and couples in BC, the Maritimes, and even Africa this year.

I'm thrilled that there is one very close to home in June at Big Sky -- one of the most stunning and beautiful courses in Canada just outside of Whistler. Even Evan Schiller, a former PGA professional who has become one of the most renowned golf course photographers in the world chose Big Sky as one of his photographed courses in his book Golf's Unfolding Drama. Gorgeous eh?

Image courtesy of Evan Schiller

And the spectacular venue is only part of the excitement. This trip will also take your game to a whole new level with some fantastic instruction.

Canadian golf legend, Sandra Post, LPGA

Image courtesy of Sandra Post

will be joining Ginny Golding, CPGA, and voted Vancouver's Best Golf Coach,

to delight golfers with an informative and fun three day golf school while in Whistler (June 22-24, 2012). Check out this itinerary...

For only $890 Cdn + 12%HST you get...

2 - 18 hole rounds of golf at Big Sky including power cart
1 - 18 hole round on the Academy course including pull cart
Daily instruction on range and course with Sandra Post, LPGA and Ginny Golding, CPGA
Friday – Welcome Lunch
Saturday – Group Dinner
Sunday – Appetizers
Tee Gift
Club Storage at Big Sky

Special rates have also been negotiated with the "All suite hotel" Pemberton Valley Lodge.

Contact Ginny for all the details and sign up before this trip sells out like the Okanagan one does every year.

If you love golf and you want to kick-start your summer with fun, fantastic golf and world-class instruction, then you need to be in Whistler in June!

And stay tuned for more on the Maritimes adventure and golf and safari in Africa!

Golfgal

Tiger, it's time to take a lesson from Yani's playbook

2012-04-13T16:01:00.001-07:00

With the first two majors behind us now (Kraft Nabisco and The Masters), the golf season has finally arrived in the great white north. Did it take longer this year, or is it just me? I am usually on my local course by February, but this year, it was April before I was able to grip it and flip it (ripping it isn't part of my game yet ;)). Sunday is my first real golf game in Vancouver since last October. Can you spell WITHDRAWAL?

I was travelling during both majors, but you can't escape the magic, mystery and madness that happens before and after the year's first majors. Most of the golf sites and blogs I follow have been sharing some great stories, but for me, the most impacting post-major story was about someone who didn't win her major (no offence Bubba - you are, and will always be, "Awesome!" :))

Yani Tseng wasn't the 2012 Kraft Nabisco Champion, but she'll always be a champion of the game. No wonder her fan base is growing exponentially. Her latest fan, Charlie Rose, did a masterful interview of her recently and she didn't disappoint.

Check out her interview and tell me if you didn't learn something from this youngster.

Yani sets a benchmark for others to aspire. This Number One is humble, but confident; serious, but happy; competitive but gracious -- a joy to watch on and off the course.

Yani is wise beyond her years and what really amazes me is that she knows what she doesn't know. That's something very few of us ever achieve -- self awareness. She's constantly looking for ways to improve herself -- not just her driving accuracy or putting, but who she is inside as a person, not just the #1 golfer in the world. No wonder she is such a happy golfgal!

In this one interview I learned three very important lessons from someone half my age. Embarrassing, but it goes to show you - you are never too old to learn...

1. Goals are a mandatory part of golf and of life, no matter how small or big...no matter how short or long term. Without a goal, practice sessions are a waste of time. Without a goal, you can't move forward. Without a goal, you are probably moving backwards.

2. Even when you reach what you consider to be your ultimate goal, you're not done. You must set new goals to take you even further. Yani is so far ahead of the others on the LPGA that they are fighting for second place in most events. Remind you of someone? ;) Distractions knocked Tiger off the the top of the World Rankings, not injury and not swing changes. Somehow I just don't see that happening to Yani.

3. When things are good - smile. When things are bad - smile. When things get ugly - smile. Evertime I hear Yani talk in interviews about how she's trying to smile more, I'm reminded of Nat King Cole and I think Yani should consider Smile as her new theme song.

Yani is a wonderful role model for all of us. She walked away from the Nabisco a winner even though she didn't take home the trophy. Unfortunately the same can't be said for Tiger whose behavior on the last day of The Masters did not impress us, teach us or make us smile.

Yani said in the Rose interview that she admired Tiger's ability to recover from shots that went all over place. Sadly that was a different Tiger at a different time.

He couldn't recover on Sunday, and maybe, just maybe it's time for Tiger to look a little deeper at the man within and realize he needs to take lesson from Yani's playbook.

So instead of trantrums, club kicking and scowling, Tiger needs to take a deep breath and...

"Smile though your heart is breaking
Smile even though it's aching
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile"

Golfgal

Celebrate The Masters with Mobitee and Me!

2012-03-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air (finally!) and that can only mean one thing...The Masters is coming!

In celebration of azaleas and green jackets, the folks at Mobitee and I thought it would be a great time to treat golfers with a masterful "must-have" product for any player looking to improve his/her game.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Mobitee, check out my post of it from February which includes a video review.

Next week I will be using my Mobitee GPS golf app (which contains over 30,000 courses) on my iPhone to play some of my favorite courses, and am very excited to see it in action. I'll let you know how that goes.

Meanwhile, here's the deal. If you would allow me to get to know you better by completing this short survey, you will be entered in a sweepstakes for one of 25 Mobitee Premium Apps that we'll be giving away on the final day of the Masters. Mobitee will notify the lucky 25 winners by email and there will be skill-testing question, but it will be much easier than putting on Augusta greens, so don't worry too much about that ;)

Unlike casino games and lotteries, there is no cost to enter this sweepstake and your odds are a lot better! But it is only open to USA and Canadian citizens a this time, so please be sure to check out all the rules here.

Good luck everyone! And thank you for letting me know a little more about you and who you think will win The Masters.

Cheers
Golfgal

Psst!: Just learned that Mobitee is offering a 50% discount on their new Windows App from March 30 - Apr 4. Take advantage of this worldwide offer now at the Windows marketplace and Nokia stores!

A Win-Win for Golfing Dads Everywhere

2012-03-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

Guest post by: Abbey Algiers www.abigailalgiers.com

This is for all of the golfers who happen to be dads. Perhaps you are a new dad, with a newborn or a few toddlers in tow. Perhaps your kids are older, maybe in elementary school. Maybe they are already in high school. Many guys in your shoes look to the golf course as a place to escape the chaos and noise of your house. What I am about to propose is entirely different. Take the chaos, namely your 4 -year- old chatterbox, 6- year- old tutu wearing princess, or defiant 14-year-old you’d like to send to an island...to the driving range. At the same time, you give your wife a few hours of silent bliss.

The end result? For starters you are outside golfing. True, you’re not enjoying a company-sponsored outing, complete with a beer and day off from work with your buddies. But, you’re in the world of golf. In addition, your wife makes a check in the plus column of golf, and therefore won’t mind if you try to throw in some extra rounds with the guys. However, the final outcome is something much greater. As you build the foundation of the game of golf with your son or daughter, you’ll also lay the foundation for a relationship with him or her- to be revisited each time you tee up together in the years to come.

A lifetime sport. As we all know, golf is a lifetime sport. The earlier we start, the better. And, what better way to instill the fundamentals of golf (and life) in your child than by taking the time to teach them yourself. Yes, you. You don’t need to send them to a fancy golf camp or golf lessons. Buy them a bag, some clubs, and take them to the driving range. It doesn’t matter if your shots aren’t always perfect. To them, you’re the expert. This comes in handy when teaching teen golfers who feel they know more than you do in every subject known to man. You can’t bluff a golf swing. In addition, golf is a fabulous way to sneak in “real talks” about life while you’re out in the middle of the course. Your kids have no choice but to listen to your words of wisdom while waiting to tee off on #6. There’s no place for them to go. So, bring on the life lessons!

I realize this isn’t a novel concept. Golfing dads throughout history have tried to teach their kids the game. Perhaps as a reader, you’re already doing this. And perhaps if you are, you’re wondering... is it really worth it? Will my daughter or son appreciate this when they’re older, or even play the game?

If you’re wondering this, I have good news for you. As a 40-year-old daughter whose dad gave her starter clubs at age six... I need to tell you that it’s worth it. You see, by spending time with your child or children now... you are almost guaranteeing that they will want to spend time with you later. What you may not realize as your 7-year-old whines, “Dad, I’m hot. I don’t want to golf. I hate this game...” is that each moment spent putting, chipping, in the sand, or on the range matters more than you think. These moments matter because your son or daughter is listening to everything you say. They’re watching you. They sense, in some super-human form brought on by DNA and the golf gods that something great is happening.

Deep within the frustration that comes to any new golfer- especially an 8-year-old girl who can’t seem to understand the phrase “keep your head down” – there is a bond building between teacher and student. I was that 8-year-old girl. I was also that 10-year-old girl who putted like she was driving. And, sadly, I was the 12-year-old girl who finally mastered the five iron only to hear her father’s friend declare, “Your son is a very good golfer.” Yes, throughout all the stages of my life and game, my dad was by my side, always patiently teaching me what I needed to know. He was there to correct my errors and applaud my accomplishments.

Return on investment. Now, I’m not telling you that by taking your son or daughter golfing that they’ll end up on The Tour. No, you’re probably not going to see their name on the Leader Board, and you probably should still contribute to their college fund because golf scholarships are few and far between. I can tell you, from personal experience, what you will gain by taking the time to teach your child to golf.

Quality Time. We all complain that there’s not enough time to do everything we need to do. There are lawns to mow, rooms to be painted, work emails to be returned. I’ve got news for you, fellas. Those things will always be there. The simple act of driving your child to a golf course, spending an hour or so there, and driving them home gives you precious time that can’t be interrupted by outside forces or things you “should do.” It’s just you and your child, and a bucket of balls.

Fresh Air. You, are out of the office. Your child, is not in front of a computer or TV. So far, two-for-two. You are both in the great outdoors, filling your lungs with a healthy dose of Mother Nature. It may be freezing, raining, 100 degrees, or a perfect 60 and sunny. Whatever the case, you can share the experience together and round out the day with a hot chocolate or hot fudge sundae.

The chance to teach life lessons. Golf provides the perfect opportunity to subtly teach your kids the important things in life- like humility when you hit the ball well and good character when everything falls apart. The best way to do this is of course to be a good role model. In worst-case scenarios, I guess you could say it’s a good chance to teach your kids how to swear softly, and hold it together enough not to throw your clubs.

Patience. Even though it may not always feel that you’re fine-tuning your patience, you are. When I think about the hours my dad stood behind me while I dubbed my irons in exactly the same way, I think he should be given a medal for not just calling it a day. He didn’t yell, he didn’t get frustrated with me. He just told me- over and over- what I needed to do (or not do). He took this patience to the tee, the fairway, the rough, the green, and everywhere in between. He didn’t give up on me, and therefore I had no choice but to not give up on myself.

Lifelong golf buddy. My only warning for the dads out there who decide to teach their kids the game is that I hope you really like to golf, because your kids just may end up loving it as well. Years later, those same sassy 7-year-olds who “hated the game” or know-it-all 14-year-olds who were “never going to play this dumb sport again” are going to be the ones wanting to golf with you on their days off. They’ll look forward to the time they get to golf with, and talk to their dad- as adults, and as good friends.

So, to all of the golfing dads reading this. If you love your sport, and love your kids, take them to a golf course now. It may just turn out to be the greatest win-win in the history of golf.

Abbey

Be Gone ye Golfer's Curse!

2012-03-11T14:36:00.004-07:00

It's been almost 4 months since I played a round of golf. And although I'd been thinking a lot about getting get out to hit some balls, yesterday was only the 3rd time I've been to the range since November.

Why? Oh, I could blame the weather, but I think it was something else. I think I was afraid -- afraid I'd lost my swing -- afraid I'd embarrass myself -- afraid I'd start to hate golf.

Waaay too much Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD)!

So when I walked up to the ball yesterday with my trusty (rusty?) 7 iron, I was afraid of what would happen.

Nothing felt right; in fact it felt like I was holding a golf club for the first time. And we all remember how unnatural that feels.

I stood over the ball for a long time trying to get comfortable. Didn't happen. So I did a few practice swings to loosen up and then stepped back to start what I vaguely recalled as my pre-shot routine.

And I hit the best 7 iron I can remember ever striking -- straight down the middle with a little draw. I swear it went 15 yards longer than what I normally hit that club. I was delighted!

But then the dreaded Golfer's Curse planted itself in the 6 inches between my ears....

"It matters not your first shot, if you #%?^-th up your second!"

No amount of muscle memory was going to make me follow up that great shot with another.

The rest of the practice session was a series of okay shots, not so okay shots and darn right butt-ugly shots, with just about every club in my bag. Needless to say, it wasn't my best day and I was starting to get depressed. But I knew deep inside that this too shall past so I stepped up one more time and hit my come back tomorrow shot with that same trusty 7 iron.

Then I packed it in and headed home with balls still sitting on the mat.

I didn't give the experience another thought until this morning drinking coffee in bed. In the dark I thought back to how I bookended my practice session with 2 great shots. What would today bring?

Sure enough, the Golfer's Curse reared its ugly head again and I started to doubt myself.

"Enough, already!" I said, "It's time to get this pathetic prophecy out of my head."

I knew trying to forget it was a waste of time (Try and NOT think about a pink elephant ;)).

What I needed to do was to replace the curse with a blessing, or at least...hope. Hence the birth of my new "next shot" mantra...

I am sure Robert Browning is rolling over in his grave right now ;)

But seriously...

FUD is not in the rules of golf; it has no place on the tee boxes, fairways or greens. It has no place in YOU!

It's time for you to rule your own mind and believe in yourself. You are what you think, so...

Sing as you walk between shots,
Smile when you look at your ball,
Laugh when your ball misbehaves, and
See every shot as a new opportunity, not a challenge.

And may "the saddest ~~day~~ shot of your future be no worse than the happiest ~~day~~ shot of your past."

Happy St. Paddy's Week!

Golfgal

Golfers never die; they just change holes

2012-03-02T10:01:00.001-08:00

I was doing my taxes earlier this week wishing I were anywhere else when Benjamin Franklin's fatalistic proverb ran through my mind, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."

As a tax payer, there's very little I can do to change the rules on when and how I give unto Caesar. But as a golfer, can I choose where I spend eternity when the grim reaper hits me with a final DQ?

When considering the possibilities, at first I thought that I would love to have my ashes scattered among the azaleas at Augusta; it's the only way I'd ever get to smell them as a female golfer.

But then I thought, why live my eternity looking up at people who wouldn't invite me to play? So I decided what I'd really love is to spend my ever after on the fairways where I've had the most fun.

The problem is that most parks, sports fields and golf courses decline requests from grieving families who dare to ask for permission.

Don Ho Funeral, Waikiki Beach, 7/5/07

But that hasn't stopped a lot of people who have chosen less traditional burial grounds. e.g. The legendary entertainer Don Ho had his ashes scattered about a half mile offshore of Waikiki Beach.

Wildcat scattering of ashes is becoming a common practice among North Americans who want to send off their loved ones in a very personal way. According to an article I read in the WSJ last year, about 135,000 families are choosing to surreptitiously scatter ashes rather than urn them, resulting in about 338 tons of human ash landing on non-traditional burial grounds every year.

I don't see any problem with it since the ashes are organic. In fact it's quite sustainable; something golfers have been accused of being "NOT". So I say, "Wherever ye may be let your ashes fly free!" (just make sure I'm up wind from you ;)).

I bet at this point you're wondering why on earth would I be writing about death. It's not anything morbid I can assure you. I just happened to be reading an article in Golf Business magazine about a funeral home in Washington State offering a rather unique resting place for avid golfers.


Memorial Golf Park

Sunset Hills Memorial Park and Funeral Home in Bellevue, WA hired an architect to professionally design Memorial Golf Park - a one acre golf hole with an 820 sq. ft green, bunkers and lush fairway. This hole now has over 13,000 deceased golfers who call it their eternal home.

I think it's a brilliant idea and so do many golfers. It's so popular that the company is looking to add a second hole to the park, and are expanding into the Vegas and Phoenix.

Look...None of us get out of this alive and we certainly can't take it with us, but wouldn't it be nice to think that when you do make that last putt on your last round in this game of life, your next life starts at new tee?

Live every day like it's your last and make every shot count. That's my motto in life. In death it will be "Hit 'til your happy!"

Golfgal

Photo credits:
Don Ho Funeral: © Robert Cravens | Dreamstime.com
Memorial Golf Park: Sunset Hills Memorial

Why are some golf courses committing business suicide?

2012-02-23T15:28:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I ranted a bit about the insanity of golf and my fears for its future. Think of this as part two of that post, because now I am going rave about golf course dinosaurs and why their lack of business model innovation is going to put many of them into bankruptcy.

Last year in British Columbia at least half a dozen golf courses either rolled up their fairways for good or went into receivership.

It was a year plague by bad weather and short-sighted managers who stood their ground on green fee pricing resulting the in the playgrounds around their clubhouse staying empty.

Why can't they see that the old ways of doing business aren't working and will never work again. it's time to wake up to the new world of daily discounts.

In November 2008, Groupon pioneered its unique geo-targeted daily deal service and things have never been the same. Just 3 years later the company went public with a market value of whopping $12.7 billion!

Since then hundreds of deal sites have been launched trying to copy Groupon's formula, including those focusing on discount tee times/packages like GroupGolfer.

I haven't used GroupGolfer yet as it is still US only, but I'm very familiar with Groupon and I think it's great for both consumer and vendor. Consumers get a good deal and vendors get a great opportunity to up-sell the customer and increase the chances of repeat business down the road. I could probably be the poster child for them..

Last summer I bought $60 worth of bedding plants for less than half price with Groupon. But when I left the store, I discovered I had spent three times that much because I liked what I saw and kept buying. I've been back many times since. It was win-win for both me and the seller and I believe the same can happen with golfers and golf courses.

I wish a daily deal green fee program would come to BC because I would sign up immediately. Last year one company tried, but they couldn't get the golf courses to discount their green fees for a group buy. In fact, when they tried to market the program to a bunch of golf bloggers and golf courses through an email campaign, one golf course representative replied with this:

"I am not interested in signing up for your service. The last thing I am looking to do is tell thousands of golfers that I value my services at half of what I try to sell it for on a day to day basis. Unless you are a start up business wiling to pay a severe premium to get people to your location, I believe sites like yours, Groupon, etc. are the worst thing a business owner could do."

What I find really sad is that I know for a fact that his golf club is in receivership. Why he would rather have empty fairways than fill them with golfers who will likely use their savings to pay for range tokens, golf balls, gloves and tees, beers from the cart gal or dinner and drinks after the round, I'll never understand.

And this attitude isn't reserved for North America. With a reduction in 46,000 registered golfers in 2011 (the first time that's ever happened), over 30% of Europe's operators and club managers actually increased prices in 2011 rather than offering youth and family programs or promotional packages.

According the Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice, “More than half of golf clubs have not invested in enhanced marketing – and many have not yet capitalized on the opportunities provided by online marketing and social media.”

Thankfully not all golf courses are living in the dark ages. Ka'anapali Golf on Maui figured out how to fill 2 hours of unused time at the end of the day and introduced a great Club Fit program to locals and tourists. For just $50/month you can walk and play 6 holes of golf after 4 pm. Brilliant!

And yesterday I heard about one club that offered "gimmes" to players - free golf for the last 1.5 hours in the day during the summer. It was a huge success. They could never sell green fees at that time of the day, so why not bring in golfers for free and enjoy the extra revenue that comes from post-round hospitality sales.

Golf has benefited from amazing innovations in equipment, apparel and course design over the past few years. It time for golf course owners to get with the program and adopt innovative marketing programs and business models to resurrect their dying businesses.

Golfgal

Insanity - Thy name is golf.

2012-02-18T11:22:00.000-08:00

It is said that Albert Einstein defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

I've always loved that definition because it reminds me to think outside the box when I see myself repeating the same mistakes.

I am by nature a stubborn person, but I don't consider myself insane. If something 'ain't broke' in my life, I won't try and fix it. But if things aren't quite right, I'm not afraid to shake them up.

Which is why I was lying awake last night worrying about the epidemic plaguing the golf industry - the steady decline in people participating in golf.

I think my insomnia was triggered by the latest study in Europe that reported an astounding 46,000 drop in registered golfers in 2011. According to Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice, the growth of golf started to slow down after 2005, but last year was the first time there was actually a decrease in registered golfers.

Certainly the economy isn't helping matters, but I believe it's more than that. Golf hasn't kept up with the times and time is passing it by.

Look at the youth of today and what interests them:

On-demand entertainment from YouTube, smartphone apps and social media
Anywhere/anytime access to friends (real and virtual)

For them, instant gratification isn't a "nice surprise" as it was for us Baby Boomers when we were their age, it's an expectation, almost an entitlement, because virtually everything they want today is just a click away.

And then there's golf....where nothing happens instantly. You can't just pick up your clubs and hit the links whenever you want with whomever you want, at least not in my town.

No, you have to book a tee time days in advance, dress in clothes you wouldn't normally be caught dead in, arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your tee time or lose it, discover your 3-some of golf buddies will be forced to play with an old geezer who showed up as a single. Oh... and then fork out mega cash for 5 hours of "hurry up and wait". Fun eh?

No wonder our kids won't play with us any more. Oh ours did when they were 9 or 10, but once they hit puberty, no amount of begging or bribing was going to get them on the golf course. As far as they are concerned, golf:

Takes too long.
Is boring (probably because it takes too long).
Is slow (making it take too long)
Is uncool.
Is a game for old men (AKA it's uncool).
Costs too much.
Has too many dumb rules.

I decided to venture online to find out more about kids' real feelings on golf and came across this question on Yahoo from a young lady begging for help: "I hate golf and my dad is forcing me to play it. What do I do?"

Here were some of the very telling answers:

"If after the first few holes you still decide you hate it, just play as ABSOLUTELY SLOW as possible. that will drive your dad crazy enough to never make you play again."

"Pretend to be REALLY bad, my grandpa forced me to play, and all i did was pretend to be really bad, and he saw how bad i sucked, and i got out of it."

"Hit all the balls in the water, make it too costly to play the game."

But the one I loved the most was...

"HOW can you hate golf? It is a fabulous game. People are really impressed by women who can play. Besides, it is a wonderful way to meet men with money."

I wasn't sure if I should laugh about that one or cry.

Now it's not all doom and gloom...there are a few initiatives out there trying to create new variants of golf that appeal to the younger generation, such as the Jack Nicklaus-endorsed Golf 2.0 and every traditionalists' unfavorite, NotGolf (AKA Flogton) and Off Course Golf.

I, myself, applaud any organization who is experimenting with new forms of white ball entertainment to try and keep the game alive for future generations.

Here's one idea from Kwik Golf which not only makes the game more kid-friendly, it solves the pace of play problem that plagues so many courses.

Kwik Golf recently together with the First Tee of Palm Beach and provided a fun and energetic game of Kwik Golf for the kids in that program. Cool!

For many of us on the slippery side of "over the hill", the traditional game of golf will always be on our hit parade. But there is a growing list of young people who see the game we love as going the way of the LP/Beta/VHS/CD...

I don't think we're insane for trying to protect the sanctity of the game for the few who take it seriously and want to compete. But the iTunes and Netflix generation want something else.

Bowling alleys use laser lights and music now to attract more youth. And one cannot ignore the growth of snowboarding. It wasn't that long ago when "the bane of skiing purists" weren't allowed on many hills in Canada. Today they are everywhere and are predicted to overtake the number skiers on our hills by 2015.

I'm afraid to think about the state of golf in 2015. It's time to stop the insanity. It's time to give our future what they want - Golf Their Way.

Golfgal

Get on with golf or get off!

2012-02-11T14:04:00.000-08:00

Last week you probably heard about a golfer being stabbed by another with a broken golf club at Eagle Mountain Lake golf course. It all started when a marshal tried to "move things along" by asking a group of tortoises to let a 3-some play through. Things got very ugly - someone almost died.

The story was shocking, but after watching the pros play for a few years, I actually wasn't all that surprised. A golfer's right to "play his own game" regardless of its impact on others has created a sense of entitlement, whose roots took hold in the PGA Tour and were feed and nurtured by the man at the top.

Back in May 2010, John Feinstein shared in his column that it had been 18 years since a PGA Tour player received a penalty for slow play. And there is one reason why...Commissioner Tim Finchem.

When confronted by the media, Finchem made it clear he wasn't interested in solving this on-going problem, "Slow play is a legitimate issue, but not to the point where I think we need to do something like that."

I wonder how Mr. Finchem feels after the incident at Eagle Mountain Lake.

Perhaps it's just a lack of patience on my part, but last week I stopped watching the Waste Management Open because the poster boy for slow play, Ben Crane, was in contention. I was fast forwarding every time he was on camera and finally gave up watching.

The same was true for at the Qatar Masters - Jason Day was so slow he could have been charged with loitering in the middle of the fairway.

This week at Pebble Beach, Charlie "wakey wakey" Wi is in the lead. I guess I'll take a pass on watching the PGA Tour on TV again this week.

But in the midst of this frustratingly sloooow start to the season, there are some encouraging stories that give me hope.

I read an article last fall in Golf Business Magazine about a club in Minnesota that isn't afraid to dish out slow play penalties. In fact, they'll politely kick your butt off the course if you haven't played your first 9 holes in under 1 hr and 55 minutes.

They post rangers at every 3rd hole to keep the pace. And if by the 8th hole, a group isn't going to make the turn in time, they have the option of skipping 9 and heading straight to 10.

Hip hip hurray for Fast Play Friday at Deer Run Golf Club!

Photo credit: Deer Run Golf Club

Now one might think this "no tolerance" policy would raise a stink among the players, but it's actually made owner and manager Tom Abts somewhat of a hero. It wasn't easy in the beginning when lots of players were asked to leave, but Abts didn't back down. If you couldn't keep up, he'd refund you some cash and send you on your way.

And guess what happened...golfers started flocking to play the course. Even on busy Saturdays, players are making it around now in 3.5 hours.

Tom Abts...keep up the great work! I wish you managed the courses I play here in British Columbia.

BTW, have you ever thought of running for Commissioner of the PGA Tour? The Tour (and golf) could sure use you.

Although after seeing Mr. Finchem just accept another 4 year extension to his term, it looks like he's taking his slow sweet time leaving.

Golfgal

Therapy for a golfer's soul: Golf's Unfolding Drama

2012-01-31T18:44:00.000-08:00

Evan Schiller

You meet the most interesting people when you work or play in the golf industry - many of them through social media.

Last week was no exception. I followed someone on Twitter who introduced me to his new eBook on the iPad.

Now normally I get books sent to me by publishers to review for free. If I like a book I'll write about it. And if I don't like a book, I write nothing.

But this time was different. I actually paid for the book. And it was worth every penny.

Golf's Unfolding Drama is a book of golf course photography designed especially for the iPad by Evan Schiller, a former PGA professional who has become one of the most renowned golf course photographers in the world.

Over the past 20 years, Schiller has captured the drama and stunning beauty of hundreds of courses including Pebble Beach, Augusta, The Old Course at St. Andrews and Ballybunion, to name just a few.

40 of his most dramatic grace the pages of his book.

A favorite of mine is his photograph of one of the best golf courses in British Columbia - Big Sky.

Big Sky Golf Course, BC (Photo by: Evan Schiller)

Makes you want to play it, doesn't it?

Flipping through Golf's Unfolding Drama is like strolling through my bucket list of golf courses I hope to play someday. Each photo comes with a "not immediately visible" narrative that allows you to appreciate what Evan had to do to capture the image at just the right moment. It's fun to read them, but equally fun to hide them so you can fill your screen with breathtaking imagery.

I love having it on my iPad because it means I can flip through it anytime, anywhere (like waiting in the dentist office or sitting in on a really boring conference call ;)).

I highly recommend you download it and see for yourself. It's a wonderful reprieve from life's dull or stressful moments. I think of it as therapy for a golfer's soul.

Golfgal

LPGA rookie Hannah Yun Hits ISPS Handa with High Hopes

2012-01-29T13:41:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or does it seem like forever since we’ve watched the ladies tee it up on the LPGA?

Three months off the radar is much too long IMHO, so I'm excited that finally we'll see the ladies in action at the 2012 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club, February 6-12.

It’s a formidable venue (remember it hosted the Presidents Cup in 2011) boasting a world class field including Rolex Player of the Year, Yani Tseng, 38-time champion, Karrie Webb, the unstoppable Susann Pettersen with 8 titles to her name, including 2 in 2011; and let’s not forget the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, Hee Kyung Seo.

And while all of those accomplished women will capture the attention of golf fans everywhere, my sights will be on a teenager entering her rookie year on the LPGA tour with a resume many seasoned players would envy -- 19 year old, Hannah Yun.

One of 140 talented women (many previous LPGA players) battling for the coveted top 20 at Q-school, Hannah, in her first attempt, tied for 15th place and earned her full 2012 LPGA card in the fall of 2011.

It was an amazing feat for someone so young, but Hannah isn’t unfamiliar with accomplishments and accolades. At just 15 years of age, Hannah:

Graduated high school with high honors
Was her high school’s MVP after winning the Florida High School State Championship
Received a full scholarship to the University of Florida in 2007.
Was the youngest student in the history of the NCAA to compete in college events
Was named the MVP of the Florida women’s team
Was selected as an NCAA, SEC, and Golfweek first-team All-American
Won IMG/Leadbetter Golf Academy MVP and Player of the Year

In 2009, at the age of 17 Hannah was the youngest golfer to ever play as a touring pro in the US.

When I heard about Hannah from Dave Andrews, author of the delightful novel, Pops and Sunshine, I knew I had to find out more about her. Listen in and discover what makes this young phenom tick...

Quite the young lady don't you think?

No wonder Dave Andrews (who graciously sent me pictures of Hannah for this post) wrote this after her Q-school success, "I was thrilled for her and happy to have helped in a small way. Trust me, however, Hannah didn’t need my help. She is as good a player as most of the players currently on the LPGA tour. She is going to do very well in her rookie season on the tour, and at the young age of 19 has a brilliant career to look forward to. She is also one of the nicest, most humble and modest young women I have ever had the chance to meet."

Best of luck Hannah! I'll be cheering you on throughout 2012 and for many years to come.

Golfgal

A free Valentine's Gift for the golfer you love

2012-01-26T10:28:00.000-08:00

I'm not a big fan of January. The excitement of Xmas is over and all we have to look forward to is snow, sleet and freezing rain. Oh and did I mention darkness? It's dark when I leave for work and dark when I come home at night. And to top it off there are no more statuatory holidays until March.

No wonder bears hibernate at this time of year!

Oh and what about taxes? For the self-employed like me, I enjoy visiting my tax accountant at this time of year about as much as having a root canal done.

Sigh...

No discretionary spending for me for a while. And it's usually shopping that gets me out of my winter funk.

So imagine my delight when I found out that I could get a $24.99 iPhone app I've been wanting to try for a while for free. Yup, the folks at Mobitee are having a one-time promotion where you can get the app for free between January 26th - 31st at 9 pm.

Haven't heard about Mobitee? Well, if you've been spending $60+ a year to update your SkyCaddie subscription, then you need to check them out.

Mobitee is a GPS golf app which contains over 25,000 golf courses, satellite aerial views of each hole, flyover videos, a range finder, shot tracking, score cards, and something I love...FREE updates!

It works on the iPhone, iPod Touch (if you have Internet access) and Android and BlackBerry devices as well.

Check out this review done by Daily App Show.

Pretty cool eh?

I've just downloaded it for my iPhone and I can't wait to try it out on my home course in Vancouver. Only problem is that it's too cold to play golf. :-(

But I have a great idea. Why don't you download it (make sure you download the premium version 2.8), try it out on your favorite courses and come back and tell me how it was. Then I can live vicariously through you until the sun decides to honour us with his presence in this winterland.

And don't forget Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Why not download it for the one you love at the same time? It's never a bad thing to be early with a Valentines gift - beats the heck out of being late. ;)

Golfgal

Do your golf clubs suffer from S.A.D.?

2012-01-21T14:10:00.000-08:00

It's January 21, 2012 -- almost two months since I lifted a golf club. I remember the last time as if it was yesterday.

18th hole, Ka'anapali Kai...

My golfguy and I were reminiscing about the last 3 weeks when we played golf every day in paradise. We were moaning a bit that we were down to our last 2 or 3 shots for a very long time.

It never occurred to us at the time that someone was listening, until I picked up my sand wedge, took an easy swing and proceeded to shank my new Prov V1 into the water. Sandy was misbehaving. No way was she going to let me par that last hole after hearing she was soon going to be denied active duty for many months. At first I was angry, but then I understood...who could blame her?

Imagine if we treated our kids like we treat our golf clubs. You try playing daily with Johnny for weeks on end and then lock him in his room for 2 or 3 months. Family Services would be on your case faster than you can say PPSD (Post Paradise Stress Disorder).

Golf clubs aren't just inanimate objects I've come to learn. They need continuous tender loving care in order to do their job -- a job they do for us every chance they can, without complaint even in the foulest weather.

Clubs require regular exercise to stay fit for golf. But instead of supporting their fitness regime, we dump them in the garage or basement when weather socks us in, just like I did upon our return from Maui. We self-centered golfers are the reason that our clubs suffer S.A.D. (Seasonal Abandonment Disorder) every winter.

Two months ago, my clubs went from swinging in seventh heaven to hunkering down in hell (which in our home is a cold dark shed) - all in a 24 hour period. Talk about a shock! No wonder they feel abandoned.

I did try and explain to them that as soon as it was 8 degrees C (46 F) I would come and take them out for a round. But that any lower temperature than that would be too cold for my hands to grip them.

Weeks went by and soon it was Xmas. Imagine my surprise to find hand warmers in my stocking Xmas morning. Where did they come from?

It didn't take me long to find out. It was all too clear who the secret Santas were when I discovered my stix waiting for me at the front door.

I confronted them as they stared out at the bleak cold day asking which of them was responsible for the toasty treats. Not one of my sulky soldiers would look at me. Finally Sandy peeked around her neighbor and then I knew.

She was trying to make up for her blunder on my approach shot to 18 the month before. I couldn't help but smile. Unfortunately the warmers were not enough for me to take her out to play then or since. Below freezing temperatures and snow do not a great round of golf make.

But now it's January 21, 2012. My clubs continue to sit at the front door staring out towards the south to where the driving range awaits our return someday.

The high today is 7 degrees C (45 F). I'm feeling the full effects of P.P.S.D. and know that my clubs are as S.A.D. as S.A.D. can be.

1 degree is all it takes to turn our frowns upside down. What's 1 degree?!

The snow has been washed away, there are heaters in the driving range stalls and my handy warmers are in my bag.

I think it's time for me to reward my loyal lasses for their patience these past 2 months.

It's time to take the plunge ladies. Brrrr...ring it on and let the 2012 golf season begin!

Golfgal

Don’t go to Maui unless you can risk the horrors of PPSD
Gordon Clark gclark@theprovince.com twitter.com/gordzillacity
The Province
16 Jan 2012
Ihave a warning for everyone. Do not, I repeat do not, go to Hawai‘i on vacation, particu‘ularly if you care about your mental health. I’ve just returned from a family vacation to Ka‘anapali on Maui and I’ve never been more miserable in my...read more...

Is it adios time for the Aloha season?

2012-01-14T11:04:00.000-08:00

Every January I count down the days to the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Imagine an event where only winners are invited to play - what could be more exciting than that?

Well, actually almost anything this year.

Last weekend I had it on in the background while I did more stimulating things - like tallying year end expenses for my taxes.

Normally when the Aloha season kicks off on the PGA Tour on Maui, I’m glued to the TV, looking to see how the best of the best play Kapalua.

But this season, with so many of the world’s best taking a pass on this event, I listened to the telecast, but my heart was just not in it. If it weren't for Steve Stricker being in the field, I'm not sure I would have even listened to it.

Three out of the four, 2011 major winners did not feel the event was worth their time (Rory McIlroy, Charl Schwartzel, Darren Clarke). The number one player in the world (Luke Donald) had other things to do. Numbers 4 and 6 (Martin Kaymer, Adam Scott) were also missing in action.

And Lefty hasn't shown up in years, allegedly because the Plantation Course doesn’t suit his game. How can a course not fit the game of someone took home the trophy twice in 5 years (Phil Mickelson won the event in both 1994 and 1998).

Nope! There is something seriously wrong when the most exclusive event of the year is excluded from the calendars of the best players in the world. With both Nick Faldo and Johnny Miller in the booth, there were bigger stars behind the cameras than in front of them. How sad is that!

Now don't get me wrong, the young guns are fun to watch (well, at least those who don't carry broomsticks in their bags), but we need big name draws at this event or it might go the way of the Champions Skins Game.

Yes, sadly after an 11-year run on Maui, the Champions Skins Game is taking a leave of absence (or should I say, the sponsors are taking a leave). Sniff...

The Royal Ka'anapali hosted the event from 2008-2011 and prior to that the legends of the game enjoyed 7 years competing at Wailea.

I've always wanted to attend the Skins Game and thought it was just a matter of time before I would walk the fairways with the greatest players of our time, and my favorites of all time -- two-time defending champions, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.

Tom and Jack take home $310,000 at the 2011 Skins Game (Photo credit: Ka'anapali Resort)

But time may have run out on me. Jack and Tom were ready to play this year if someone was ready to pay a fraction of what Hyundai paid out at Kapalua.

The total purse for the Champions Tour this year was $5.6 million; Skins - $770K.

Stricker took home: $1,120,000; Jack and Tom had to split $310K.

Why do I suddenly feel like I'm talking about the LPGA? Sigh...

Forgive my first rant and rave of the new year, but something's just not right here.

If fans make enough noise about the Skins Game, IMG and ESPN might put a little extra effort into getting it back because the men want to play! Jack and Tom have already said they'd be back.

But what about Hyundai? If I was the CEO, I wouldn't want to invest my money in a tournament where the best players bail every year. But it wouldn't be Hyundai's fault if they withdrew their sponsorship and the Tournament of Champions collapsed; it would be the the players themselves we should blame.

Golfgal

Add this CLUB to your golf fitness regime

2012-01-12T08:15:00.000-08:00

How often have we heard people complain that golf is an elitist sport for the wealthy? Well, I'm not wealthy by any means and I play golf as much as I can. But I do have to admit some golf courses charge so much for green fees I feel like I have to use my house as collateral before handing over my credit card in the pro shop.

Golf can be an expensive sport if one is not careful. This is especially true of championship resort courses; you can pay a hefty premium to play during prime time in high season. And January through March is very high for those of us living in the great white north.

But when Xmas is over and it's dark and cold throughout Jan and Feb, we golfers start looking for a place to plant our Footjoys. Many easterners head to Myrtle Beach - "The Golf Capital of the World".

It certainly does offer a lot of choice in terms of golf with 100+ courses and the weather sure beats the heck out of Detroit's.

But a quick check today of their 7-day weather forecast was depressing. The highest temperature all week is 65 degrees with lows in the 40's and a daily average high closer to 60. Not freezing, but certainly not my idea of perfect beach weather. No wonder Myrtle Beach golf vacations are so affordable right now. Just bundle up first.

Meanwhile on Maui's west coast, today's forecast is sunny with a high of 82. The lowest it goes throughout the week is down to 79. Now THAT's golf and beach weather.

Okay, so we've found our destination, but what about those high season prices? Yes, Maui golf can be expensive if you don't know what you are doing. Even twilight golf can cost you over $100 at many courses on the island.

But I just discovered a real gem of a deal. Did you know that you can play everyday on a championship course on Maui for only $50 a month? That's right. It's part of Ka'anpali's FIT CLUB program where participants pay $50 a month for access to walk and play the first six holes of the Kai course each day after 4 p.m. It's been around since 2010, but I just heard about it. One of those best kept secrets I guess.

First, I love that you can walk the course. It's great exercise and I actually play better when I walk.
Second, it only takes an hour and a bit to play, so you can golf after work or after beaching it all day.
Third, it's perfect for golfers who are vacationing with someone who doesn't golf. Guys, if your wife doesn't want to be dragged around in a power cart for 4-5 hours, she can spend an hour at the spa while you hit the fairways before the cocktail hour.
Fourth, those cocktails will taste great up at the new Roy's restaurant in the Ka'anapali clubhouse that opens at the end of January. If you haven't tried a Roy's yet, check out their Aloha Hour. Yum!

I tell you FIT CLUB is a brilliant idea. No wonder 80 players sign up each month and there are approximately 25-40 that go out and play every day.

It has created its own golfing community for both tourists and -- like Byron here from the Westin Resort and Spa.

Imagine closing off your day with 6 holes of golf. It's better than nine and dine -- more like six and sips and for a lot less cash.

When I head to Maui this year, I'm signing up. For once I'll come home from my vacation weighing less than I did when I arrived AND with a lower handicap AND with money in my pocket.

Aloha!

Golfgal

If it's good enough for Annika, it's good enough for me!

2012-01-02T16:23:00.000-08:00

Back in 2010 I was very focused on improving my golf handicap. I put together a 10 step program to better golf and dropped 3 points off my index. It was a very good year.

2011? Not so much...

Last year my handicap remained flat even though my game felt okay and I shot my lowest score twice while vacationing on Maui. I realized when I got home that it wasn't my golf fundamentals that went sour in 2011, it was my fitness program.

In 2010 I had a personal trainer for most the year. It paid off, but it was an expensive investment. When my trainer resigned and went back to university, I decided to save some money and try working out on my own. I kept up my 4-day a week program, but it just didn't have the impact needed to improve my core strength, flexibility and balance. I wasn't doing the right things - I was just putting in the time which turned out to be a big waste of time.

But this year is going to be different. I just finished reading Weight Training for Women's Golf - The Ultimate Guide by Kai Fusser (Annika's trainer for many years). I found the book easy to read and understand, and I really liked seeing every exercise presented in both text and photographs so you can see exactly how they should be done properly.

I also liked that Kai dispels some myths about weight training - myths I believed were gospel until now. I always thought that women shouldn't lift heavy weights because it would make us bulk up - WRONG! I also believed that more reps was better with lighter weights - WRONG! And I thought spending a 1/2 hour every day on an elliptical machine was the best form of cardio - WRONG!

Kai pulls no punches when he tells you what machines to use and which avoid. He replaces those hours on the elliptical machine or treadmill with something he calls HIIT (high intensity interval training). HIIT only takes 4-8 minutes, 3 times a week! As soon as I read that, I knew I had the right program for me!

He also includes a nutrition chapter which I have dog eared to death. I've never been into protein supplements before, but I'm starting to have second thoughts.

In Part 5 of the book Fusser details workout programs for 4 phases:

Building and Learning
Strength
Power
In Season

He even includes exercises to help cure specific swing problems.

I do like this book and the workout programs it recommends (Hey, if they were good enough for Annika, they are good enough for me!).

The one thing I would change is the packaging. I'd make it more of a workbook where you can extract your phase's exercises and take a small cheat sheet to the gym with all the info you need. I improvised and tore the book apart to make my own mini book for phase 1 and I'll do the same for the other 3 phases.

I felt badly doing it, but I would never remember what each exercise was without the pictures. It would be great if Kai were to create a website with the content in this book (and charge for access of course). Or include a workbook with pictures as a supplement to the main publication.

Anyway, I am starting the program tomorrow and am committed to seeing it through 2012. I'll let you know how I do. Wish me luck!

Golfgal

Golf Fore Gals on Maui: Where Wahines Win!

2011-12-30T14:06:00.000-08:00

For those of us who began playing golf with husbands or boyfriends, we all remember how naked we felt on the first tee in front of strangers, especially those golfers who never bothered to wait for us to tee off before heading down the fairway (or into the woods) to hit their next shot.

I almost gave up the game when this happened to me early in my golfing career, but my golfguy was very supportive and became my biggest fan on the course, encouraging me and making up for others less considerate. It's probably why I married him :)

When I finally felt more confident with my game a few years ago, I became an advocate for getting more women into golf. I discovered that many women didn’t play because they were afraid. They had either had a bad experience or found golf clubs to be intimidating. A number of those who did play had given it up because they couldn't find gal pals to play with and they were too uncomfortable about walking on as a single.

For all of those ladies, the first thing I say to them, is, “You need to check out Golf Fore Gals (GFG). GFG a virtual golf club (i.e. one not tied to any specific course) that offers ladies of all skill levels a chance to play with other golfgals who want to play the game, get better and most importantly...have FUN.

At Golf Fore Gals, women find friendship, fun and freedom from fear, learning the game with women who have “been there” and know how hard it is to break into the male-dominated sport.

GFG offers women from Vancouver, the Okanagan, Fraser Valley and now Maui, 3 levels of membership, so no matter what your skill level or goals, there’s a place for you in the “club”. You really need to check out their website and see what members are saying about their experiences. Or check out their Open Facebook Group where there are lots of great pictures of their events.

The Maui chapter of Golf Fore Gals is new this year and I had the great pleasure of playing their Maui Women’s Annual Classic in November. No matter what the score, every wahine was a winner that day. It was a blast!

I'm booking next year's November getaway to ensure I'll be there in time to play it again.

Diane Fru, the owner and president of GFG, and her husband, Rod are from Vancouver, but they spend as much time as they can in paradise just like I do with my golfguy every year. We always try to get a game in together and this year we chose the most women-friendly course on the island - Ka'anapali Kai.

I love both of the Ka'anapali courses and from my experience playing them for two weeks in November, so do many other women. We were paired with husbands and wives on many days and even single women joined us.

One day, we were a few holes behind a regular monthly women's event; there were over 40 golfgals playing the Royal Course and from the hooting and hollering going on, I could tell that these ladies were having a good time! I was very tempted jump in my cart and join them.

I found out later from the Marshall that two of the women scored aces that day - one on the par 3, 8th and a second on the par 3, 17th.

Par 3 17th Hole at Royal Ka'anapali

I remember the pin placement on the sloping 17th green very well, and I can tell you that it was not easy. Not one person in my foursome could putt their ball into the hole. We'll all lipped out and eventually picked up. Thank goodness for gimmees :)

Golf is not easy, but it's worth every frustrating minute when you can play wonderful courses with good old friends and new ones you might never otherwise meet. My 2 best friends in Vancouver are women I met on a golf course.

So if you know a woman who loves golf or is thinking of taking it up, but doesn’t know where to start, give her a special gift this new year – give the gift of membership at GFG. She’ll thank you for a lifetime. Because that’s what golf really is – a game for life!

Aloha!

Golfgal

Golf doesn't get any better than this!

2011-12-10T10:05:00.000-08:00

Every year I hear first-time PGA Tour winners talk about how delighted they (and their wives) are about finally being able to travel to Maui in January to play the PGA TOUR Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Even though they had just won over $1M (which could buy a lot of golf rounds :)), they are as excited as a kid at Xmas about playing at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort. I can understand that.

The Plantation Course has a majestic quality you really can't find anywhere else on the island. But that being said, The Bay Course at Kapalua is no slouch either. Check out this view from the tricky par 3 5th tee. Can you hear the waves?

I started playing both Kapalua courses back in 2007 and every year when I return to this island paradise, I can't wait to play them again - sometimes to relive a special memory or seek revenge on a hole that got the better of me.

But no matter my intentions going into a round, I can't help but be blown away (sometimes literally by the trade winds) by the breathtaking vista views that the Plantation Course offers -- from that first drive on the on #1 hole...

to the last on 18...

The Plantation always delivers the most exciting, awe-inspiring, humbling and sometimes infuriating, golf I play every year. And this year was no exception.

In fact, I have to say it was probably the best 4 hours of golf I've ever played. The weather was perfect and so was the company. For the 2nd time in a week, my golfguy and I were honored to play with the 2008 Aloha Section PGA Teacher of the Year and Top Instructor in Hawaii by Golfing Magazine, Claude Brousseau.

Claude is a Senior PGA Teaching Professional at the Kapalua Golf Academy and it didn't surprise me when one of the guys at the bag drop said on our arrival, "Are you playing with Claude today? He's the best teacher on the planet you know." So I guess we're not Claude's only fans :)

Throughout the day, Claude provided invaluable tips that turned potential double bogies into birdies for us (like he did here for Charles on number 5 and me on 10).

Charles commented after his best round at Kapalua that he learned a very valuable lesson playing with Claude. "Forget about what you learned on the cow pastures in Wisconsin and look to the mountain for advice", Charles said. "It's one of the few times in golf when you shouldn't keep your head down. Look up and look around and you will see there are few fairways here where hitting it to the middle is the right thing to do."

I asked if anyone could enjoy the same unforgettable experience and was pleased to discover that you can have a playing lesson with a pro through the Kapalua Golf Academy (or contact Claude at cbunderpar[at]msn.com). I highly recommend it. Put it on your bucket (or Xmas) lis.

Back to the course...

The Plantation Course is not for the faint of heart, with its severely sloping fairways, blind shots and elevation changes (Did you know that from the 17th tips to the green, it's a 17-story drop?). Seriously downhill and dangerous!

But I loved it because, contrary to what you might think, it's women-friendly. While the boys have to play their 457 yards as a par 4, the lasses of the links play their 428 yards as a par 5. It's great being given an opportunity to reach the green in regulation on the #2 handicap hole. Nice!

And that's not the only hole where forward tee players are given a bit of a break. On the par 3, 8th, there are two forward tees from which to choose. The first requires you to carry your shot about 150 yards to the pin. Now that doesn't sound like a lot, but as Claude pointed out the westerly's blowing through the ravine will pull your ball down, so you need to take enough club to take that into consideration.

The alternate tee box is on the green side of the ravine and is a short, minimal risk option for high handicapper; but it can still test your short game.

I decided to go for it - I like living dangerously ;). And nothing felt so good as the par I scored after a good drive, great chip and 1-putt! Sweeeeeet!

It was a magical day for me, topped off by Claude's exclamation "That's the shot of the day!", referring to my miraculous blind bunker shot on the 6th hole that landed on the green, 145 yards away.

Sadly I 3-putted the hole, but I didn't care. Those "come back tomorrow" shots are what golf is all about.

Speaking of putting, let's just say it's an art form at the Plantation...and I'm no Michelangelo.

I don't think even a belly putter would have helped me on the 11th hole, where I hit the green in regulation and then proceeded to 4-putt it for a double bogey! I still say it was unfair - the views distracted me ;)

And those spectacular landscapes aren't just in front of you. On the contrary...often some of the best seascapes are behind you, like this one at the 14th tee box.

If you take a few moments and step out of your "think box" and turn around to appreciate the panorama, you won't be nearly as panicky when you turn back to face the sea of bunkers that await you off the tee.

I could go on and on, but I think you probably figured out that I've become quite enamored with this good walk unspoiled.

I used to think it wasn't a course for us chix with stix, but I've changed my mind. At just over 5,600 yards from the forward tees, it's actually shorter than the course I play at home. So why was I so afraid of it before?

I asked Mike Jones, General Manager/Director of Golf Operations at Kapalua Golf what a golfer who has never played the course before do to maximize their enjoyment and minimize the Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt many of us experience on our first visit...

“The thing to realize about the Plantation Course is that it was designed so that the ball could be played on the ground more,” explained Mike. “There are not a lot of forced carries and most entries into the green allow a golfer to land the ball short of the green and let the slope roll the ball on the green. Figuring out the way the ball will roll can be challenging but it is not as frustrating as having to carry the ball over a hazard all the time and always the golfer a chance at making a decent score. In addition, enjoying the natural beauty of Kapalua always make for an enjoyable round.”

So although The Plantation Course is not a cakewalk, it isn't as intimidating as one might originally think. Just let your heart and soul lead the way through your round as opposed to your head, and you will find that it's a wonderful venue for those great shots... those good shots... and those 'good enough' shots you have in your bag.

Aloha!

Golfgal

Great Gift for the Ardent Golfer

2011-12-02T11:53:00.001-08:00

Legs like Buttah!

I've always thought that Ernie Els' swing was poetry in motion.

It looks completely effortless and rhythmic; some might even go so far as to say it is as smooth as Barbra Streisand's legs... "Like buttah!" (Ooops, I think I'm dating myself :) ).

Anyway, back to golf...

Except for my comments on The Big Easy, I don't ever remember using the words poetry and golf in the same sentence. But since I discovered Leon White's book, Golf Course of Rhymes (Links between Golf and Poetry Thought the Ages), I can see how poetic golf really is.

Dr. White's book is a wonderful collection of poems and songs about golf dating back centuries. But it's not just a book of poetry; it if full of historical gems from the famous and infamous men and women who share our addiction to this sport. Did you know that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a golf poet? Or that women's golf started with Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots? Did you know there are at least 11 different ways to spell golf?

I am not someone who reads a lot of poetry, but I really love this book. It's organized so that each chapter is a hole on an 18-hole course, including a practice tee chapter and, of course, the 19th "watering" hole.

There are funny poems, sad ones and ones you have to read a few times to figure them out. But as the author encourages more than once, you should read them out loud to truly appreciate them. It's a bit tricky with the ones riddled with Scottish dialect (he does offer translation), but reading them out loud, you can't help but put on an accent, which leaves you smiling your way through the stanzas.

One of my favorites in the book speaks to me of heartache and happiness (which is what golf is all about); it was published in The American Golfer back in 1915:

My drive is erratic, my brassie’s the same,
My irons atrocious, and awful my aim,
My mashie is fearful, my putting worse still,
My scores have the look of a dressmaker’s bill;
My legs are a-weary, my wrists are quite lame,
But I am most happy, — I’m playing the game.

So if you are looking for a gift for someone who loves the links, I would highly recommend Golf Course of Rhymes. It's a fun and entertaining read that will also teach you things you probably never knew about the history of golf and those who loved to hate it...and hated to live without it.

But it's not just oldies but goodies...there are poems about Tiger's chip from behind the 16th green on the final day of the 2005 Masters and even one about Michelle Wie's quest to beat the pros in pants.

As Robert Trent Jones Jr. said in his forward in the book, Golf Course of Rhymes "is the best round of golf you will ever play without swinging a club."

I couldn't agree more.

Golfgal

Don't let grumpy golfers get you down

2011-11-21T11:33:00.001-08:00

How many times have you played a round of golf with someone you hope you never lay eyes on again? Not very often I'm sure. 99% of the golfers I meet on the first tee are wonderful people - friendly, supportive and fun.

So imagine my dismay when I drove up to the first tee last weekend to discover a man (his wife was riding shotgun - not playing) and one other gent sitting there looking thoroughly disappointed that they would be playing with a woman golfer. Sigh...

The husband gave me that "look" and insisted there must be some mistake - he and his golf buddy were just a twosome.

His wife knew better, however; we had spoken back on the range during warm up where she told me they had the same tee time as we did.

I had asked her if she golfed and she said she loved to play, but that she wasn't very good (How often do we hear that?) and so she was letting the boys play by themselves. I'm not sure if it was really her decision or her husband's (green fees were quite pricey), but it was a shame to see her having to sit out a round in paradise. Oh well...she seemed okay and smiled a lot throughout the day.

Anyway, back to the grumpy old man...I wasn't going to let anyone ruin my day. So I was friendly and shouted "Good shot" as often as I could. And I was very careful to not antagonize him in any way, so I made sure I was always ready to hit when it was my turn. I was playing from the forward tees and I carefully planned to have our cart ahead of the boys so when they finished teeing off, I could quickly get to my tee before their carts scooted by me to their shots.

My golfguy is always supportive of me in these awkward situations. Throughout the day, he jumped into our cart with club still in hand after he hit his drive so we were not holding up anyone.

And I fell in love with him all over again when he said to me, "Get revenge Golfgal! Play better than they do." - Which we both did. :)

By the end of the round, the husband was so frustrated with his own game, he went back and forth between two greenside bunkers at least 5 times on the 17th hole. Seriously, I'm not exaggerating. I lost count of his score at 8 (on a par 3!). He would not pick up even though the rest of us had finished the hole long before (and there was a group standing on the tee box with jaws dropping wondering what the heck this idiot was doing).

Oh well...you can't change people, but you can change how you react to them. I am pretty proud of the fact that I didn't let this jerk ruin my day. My golfguy and I both played well and took time to enjoy the beauty around us and my shot of the day.

Aaah...paradise!

Golfgal