Hi everyone – and thanks for checking in on She Kan! Golf from time to time. 

My summer in Dallas has been a little unusual, all good, but unusually hot and added layers of busy for me, KK, individually, and with my growing Coaching practice and the launch (finally) of She Kan! Golf.  Please stay tuned. 

I’ve just returned from a two week trip to Hong Kong, where my hub and I visited Mission Hills Golf Club, the world’s largest golf resort.  Yes, they’ve got the Guinness Book of World Records Plaque.  I’ve got a great report about our experience there in the works.

Additionally, I’m encouraged by what’s going on in women’s golf this year, for the amateur community (from juniors to seniors), for fundraising, for business, plus the pros (Solheim Cup is just around the corner on the September calendar), and honestly, because I’ve played more rounds of golf this year than I have in likely 7 or 8 years I feel more tuned in to what’s going on in the golf world locally and globally. 

There are (I’m so grateful) many, many golf ambassadors “out there” at courses, in various volunteer organizations, on the web and in more places than I could have expected. 

This adds to the all good I mentioned earlier!

Please check back soon, I’ll be busy adding more STUFF I’ve prepared to share! – KK

Well, Happy Father’s Day and Happy U.S. Open Final Round Sunday to so many of my friends who are golfing dads.  And, even for those of you reading whom I don’t know very well, Happy Father’s Day.

In my family, for as long as I can remember, golf (either playing 9 or 18 at one of the family’s favorite courses, watching it on TV or simply talking about it) is likely among the top activities bringing us together.  I have fond memories of watching a lot of golf on TV with my dad and brother, especially Johnny Miller, as well as going to the Amana VIP golf tournament played at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City to watch the pros play in person.

Add to this either the combination of great meals and conversations or enjoying something in the musical world, and you’ve got most of my family’s top reasons for gathering.  In recent years, due to geography these occasions typically occur around one or more yearly Holidays or while on vacations.

So for today, Father’s Day, because I’m in Dallas, and my dad, Kay, is in West Des Moines,  I’m celebrating a virtual Father’s Day Holiday.  I know he’s watched Rory’s final round and historic win. We’re totally happy for and congratulate Rory McIlroy.  We do wish fellow Iowan, Zach Johnson had enjoyed a better Saturday and Sunday, sorry Zach.  Of course, Steve Stricker, from Wisconsin gets a shout out too.  (My hub’s family is from Wisconsin, so it’s always nice to see the players from our home states doing well.)  Nice T19 finish Steve.

For over fifty years, our family has enjoyed a love affair with all things golf.  My grandfather’s both enjoyed playing golf, too.  We’ve been very blessed with opportunities to play golf together close to home, coast to coast, and outside the states.  My husband and I even made an awesome golf venue (Whistling Straits) our wedding location, and Dad drove me to the “altar” (truly a barn converted to “the turn” for golfers and caddies) in a golf cart in lieu of walking me down the traditional church aisle.  One of our notable father-daughter golf highlights!

When I was a junior golfer 35-ish years ago, the First Tee didn’t exist.  And, frankly I was lucky (let’s call it spoiled) to be involved in junior golf at our family’s local club, Urbandale Golf and Country Club, and through the Iowa Golf Association efforts.  So, it has been my dad who demonstrated and taught me what I’d consider  to be the equivalent to the First Tee’s 9 Core Values:  Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy, and Judgment.

This is why today, on Father’s Day, I’m publishing my first Real Life Champions page and my Dad is my first featured Champion. 

Hat’s Off To You Dad!  I can’t think of a better day to honor you as one of my Real Life Champions.  Happy Father’s Day!    

Let’s get the conversations started from the She Kan! Golf Clubhouse, shall we?

In building She Kan! Golf and revisiting so much of what golf has done for me, as a person, and as a player, I’ve created (what I consider to be) a great list of names.  These are my Real Life Champions, who exude really good mojo where the combination of golf and life are concerned.  (My dad, my brother, several friends, my first golf instructor, many many others.)

As a way to highlight and show them off, Real Life Champions will be a new page at She Kan! Golf in the future.  I was inspired to create this, by Harvey Penick’s writings, and thought leader Tom Peters’ web site, where he features his Cool Friends.

From And If Your Play Golf, You’re My Friend, page 81, “Be friendly.  Forget Yourself.  Stop thinking about “I.”  Listen to other people, keep interested in everyone else – caddies and members and all.  Find out what they are doing and what they care about.”

You’re invited to join Real Life Champions by providing me your “Clubhouse Stats.” I will send you an email with all the details if you’d like to join me in the She Kan! Golf Clubhouse.  Beyond our email, and listing your Clubhouse Stats on the Featured Champions page, if you’re willing, you may have an opportunity to join me during a future Pod Cast, with my friend and colleague, Scot Duke, Mr. Business Golf.

Clubhouse Stats I am seeking from my Real Life Champions – Front 9:

1.  Number of years golfing (and if you started out as a junior, at what age)

2.  Current Handicap

3.  Number of rounds played per year (estimate which are for pleasure, for business, for charity outings, or for competition).

4.  Most important Life Lessons golf taught you

5.  Biggest golf bummer experienced

6.  Your advice to the Golf Industry

7.  Your “two-cents” about Business Golf

8.  Your go-to “resource” or sources for all things golf and life related

9.  Social Media tools (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Other) related to golf

The Real Life Champions – Back 9 Clubhouse Stats will inquire about your golf and food favorites, golf and travel experiences, golf and celebrity encounters, dream foursome and much more.

I’m also pleased to be introducing an Honors page to She Kan! Golf.  For example two friends each recently had hole in ones.  Another friend broke 100 for the first time.  I’d like the Honors page to be a fun place where the She Kan! Golf followers and community can boast or post about their cool golf-life accomplishments.

Feel free to email me and join the conversations.

So there I was, at home ironing a pair of golf shorts.  It was Tuesday morning, September 11th, 2001 and, I had the day off because I’d been invited to play in a golf outing by my friends and professional colleagues, Louise, Janie and Chris with OneSource.  At the time I was the Leasing Manager at the Chicago Board of Trade.  OneSource(now part of the ABM family of companies) was our Building Maintenance Contractor.

With Fox and Friends on in the background as I took my time getting organized to leave for my hour drive to the western suburbs of Chicagoland, headed for Klein Creek Golf Club, in Winfield, I was thinking about how I’d won the women’s longest drive and a Callaway Great Big Bertha “Gems” Driver at the 1999 OneSource outing.  And, honestly, I was wondering how many women would be playing that afternoon? (There usually weren’t that many).

I was also looking forward to seeing a friend on mine from Iowa, Penny (Peters) Godden, who was at the time, the Head Professional at Klein Creek Golf Club.  It was always fun to catch up, (in high school, she and I had some good competition) and I was excited she’d stayed in the golf business and was doing well.

As I listened and looked in on E.D., Steve and Brian from time to time – the reports of the plane crashing into the North Building of the World Trade Center began.  I stopped to watch and began to channel surf, checking to see what else was being reported by NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, etc.

I switched back to Fox and by this time, John Scott was commenting about the 2nd plane hitting the South Tower, and he began suggesting what terrorist might possibly be responsible, and mentioned Usama Bin Laden’s name.  He and Eric Shawn were reporting and speculating about just exactly how devastating this event had become.  Words like “tragedy, abhorrent, disgusting” were just the beginning of the list of descriptors they were selecting as they were covering the events minute by minute all from their own shocked perspectives.  And I was beginning to wonder if playing golf was a good idea after seeing all this on TV.

The recent news of Usama Bin Laden’s death May 1, brought all these details back for me, especially because I’ve been in such a nostalgic mode getting She Kan! Golf revised and re-launched so to speak.  She Kan! Golf was born in 1998 (as a web site idea) during a conversation with my friend Louise, who’d invited me to play golf on September 11th.

While watching all the news the morning of 9/11 I recall trying to call a friend who was living in Manhattan at the time, hoping to reach her to confirm she was either safe and home, or traveling for work that day and out of the City.  Couldn’t get through.

So I tried to call other friends to learn if any body in our circles heard from her or knew anything.  And, I tried calling friends with family members in Manhattan and Long Island to find out if those connections in New York City were OK, had been contacted or knew anything more than what was being provided by the news media.  The conversations were numbing, we were mostly in shock, wondering what to do.  My email was silent.  And there I was, still slowly getting organized to leave for a golf outing?  Really felt odd.

My mobile phone rang, and it was Louise.  She was confirming the golf outing was still a go, despite what was going on in New York, The Pentagon, Shanksville and elsewhere; and she was hoping I still planned to go out to Klein Creek and play.  She shared about buildings in the Loop beginning to evacuate.  She was evacuating staff as well.  She said if Scott (my boyfriend at the time, now my hub.) was being evacuated from his building, and wanted to play golf, to invite him to the golf outing.

Knowing how much work goes into planning an outing for 100+ players (all clients) and how important it was to their customer service, I was inclined to go, but it still felt really weird to consider going to play golf, enjoying good company, some adult beverages and a great barbeque after having witnessed the evil, destruction, death, and sadness on TV that morning.

I kept looking out our back door at the Loop; at the Sears Tower (now Willis Tower).  We had a clear view of the City Skyline.  Briefly, we talked about how getting out of the downtown area might be a good idea, because we didn’t have any idea what was truly going on, the huge scope of how our lives would be permanently impacted both personally and professionally after that morning hadn’t even begun to be defined.

By this time my Scott, who was working at the 200 South Wacker Building for Regus, called an informed me he was on his way home because all the high rise buildings in the Loop near Sears Tower were being evacuated, just in case there were any planes headed for Chicago’s skyline, and there were rumors about terrorist having targeted the Sears Tower.  Over head, the skies of Chicago were silent, which was also weird, especially for a morning.

Just like in New York, in Chicago, we too, had a beautiful blue sky September day.  A perfect day for a golf outing.  Although it felt strange, I shared about Louise’s invitation to join us for the golf outing, and Scott decided to come with me.  We also thought getting out of the City for a little while would be a good idea until we could find out more about our safety in the area and about what else was happening in New York, D.C., and elsewhere.  Regus had a business center in the World Trade Center, and Scott was waiting for news about staff and tenants there.  The reports weren’t encouraging.

So off to Winfield we went in our golf clothes, with our clubs, while trying to get our thoughts around what was going on in New York, The Pentagon, Shanksville.  Over a barely clouded blue sky there were no planes in the air traffic patterns as we drove along the Eisenhower Expressway.   In the O’Hare area the absence of air traffic became more and more obvious, and it was noticeable all afternoon at the golf course as well.

We enjoyed the afternoon of golf and good company.  Most everyone mirrored our numbness to what had happened that morning.  I hardly remember talking about anything. But, I do remember watching the TV (no sound on ) mounted in the corner of the Club House for most of the awards bbq, streaming all things 9/11 attacks, reporting more and more about the rising death toll and who was responsible.

I’d estimate about 75% attendance turned out.  Scott won a dozen golf balls and I won a carry bag in the raffle.  And that afternoon, it was golf and hanging around with people who found safety and refuge at the golf course on such an ugly day, that made us feel OK.  Golf and where you golf really gives us a great gift of “getting away” when we need it.  9/11 obviously is one of the most significant in my life.

From that day on, my work life changed dramatically (as it did for all of my Commercial Real Estate Leasing and Property Management Colleagues.)   The following Monday morning (after the longest down time in trading floor history), ahead of the opening bell, the floor traders stood in silence for a moment as members of our building staff did the same from the observation gallery above the giant trading floor.  A huge American flag was draped at the end of the Trading floor – a building large enough to house one of the planes piloted into the World Trade Center Towers by Bin Laden’s terrorists.

Interestingly enough, November 2011 was the next time I went to fly anywhere.  And it was to meet my Dad in Orlando for our yearly November birthday golf.  Of course the first time flying when all of the new security precautions were in place.  This is when I realized my travel life had changed dramatically as well.

This may seem like an odd stream of commentary, but Bin Laden’s death brought this all back.  I’m so proud of our U.S. military and intelligence gatherers for persisting in tracking down and getting Bin Laden.  And, in looking back nearly 10 years now, I’m still grateful there was golf as my consoler and safe place for Scott and me on 9/11.  To honor our Military through golf, please visit the Patriot Golf Day website.

For the last two months, since I began the journey of bringing She Kan! Golf to the web, I’ve been enjoying getting out the mementos I’ve saved for 40+ years of golf in my life and sifting through many many photos where some of my fondest memories of family, my husband, and my friends are preserved.

Also, I’ve been scouring old golf publications I’ve collected, an searching Google for all things golf and life, golf and business. I’ve come across so much information about the state of the golf industry, the golf “business” today, last week or within the past couple years, and some of it saddens me, or I guess it really bugs me – especially the stats for women’s golf.

For example, “The Right Invitation: A Comprehensive Study to Guide the Golf Industry to Meaningfully Increase Women’s Golf Participation and Satisfaction,” completed toward the end 2009 by the Sports & Leisure Research Group.  The objective of the study was to “identify strategies and tactics that provide a more inviting experience and increases satisfaction, participation and retention of women golfers.”  OK – I love this objective.

And, this study also introduced me to the concept of Lapsed Golfers (less than 8 rounds in the past 12 months).  After reading it, I asked myself, “KK, have you been a Lapsed Golfer these last several years?” (Role video of KK sorting through collected score cards from recent years).

My answer is “Mmmm, yes, sort of, from time to time.”  But my answers are different than those listed by this study.  Here’s some reason’s why.  First, Life happens. Lapse No. 1.  In late 2006, my husband and I relocated from Chicago to Dallas.  Cool for me, right? A state and a climate where year round golf is played.  Well – we also bought our first home, and fun “DIY-fixer-upper.”

So naturally with the “fixer-upper” and no job pressure when we moved, I dove into the projects I could manage in our home, and hung out for 8 months while our contractor and crew did the heavy lifting and the hard work.  Often we elected to work around our house and yard on a beautiful North Texas sunny Saturday instead of play golf.

We only golfed maybe 5-6 times locally, and then of course on our vacations.  But, consequently – my over use of the power tools, hammers, and shovels aggravated the right arm so much so that golf was verboten and two surgeries were required to fix me before golf would be a painless (that’s funny, really) experience.  Thus, Lapse No. 1.  UGH!

November 2007 to April of 2009.  Physical therapy, followed by surgery on my right wrist (March 2008) followed by right shoulder surgery (August 2008) followed by more Physical Therapy.  Combined with missing golf more than I realized I would, and the fact I wanted a new career, I decided to take a shot at the Golf Sales Rep. arena here in North Texas.

In the late 80’s most of the Sales Reps I knew from the PGA Iowa Section who called on my club and those I met at the PGA Show each January in Orlando were really nice people, appeared to be enjoying their careers, making a nice living, playing golf quite a bit.  Sounds good huh?  But… there’s this new deal 25+ years later called the Internet, and Sales Reps really aren’t doing as much as they traditionally used to, and in 2009’s economy, running around with samples on hot Texas days only to find shops closed, or lots of merchandise marked down already, and/or pros not really interested….well that was challenging and ultimately made for bad mojo in that “new career” journey I was on.

But, I did re-join EWGA and got myself back playing lots of golf and loving it.  Match play, Saturday events and fun play days with a great new group of girlfriend golfers.  During this time I dove into developing my Coaching Business, and when the cold temps. arrived in North Texas in 2009, Lapse No. 2 began.  A half-lapse because I did play more than 8 rounds, but they were unsatisfying (not from the Social aspect, but from my own set of expectations aspect).

Reminder, Life happens!  1) I wasn’t practicing and playing very much (my time was devoted to Coaching school, business development and most things Entrepreneur for She Kan! Kompany;  2) My new clubs were stolen out of the garage and I was watching expenses (starting up a new business), thus did not quickly replace the stolen clubs (used the 15 year old set when I played), and 3) when I did go out to play, it was (my game was) lack luster.  That bad mojo again.

In comparing my idea of what my “Lapses” are to the Sports & Leisure Research Group’s report, I don’t truly find mine are  reported there, however, I did find the phrase “conflicting priorities” and I can make that work to a point.   And, a friend from Dallas EWGA tells me at the EWGA Golfapolooza earlier this month it was reported, “Women are the fastest growing segment for golf and golf equipment today.”  This is good news, I want more information please.

So I respectfully request the Sports & Leisure Research Group do another study of women golfers who are entrepreneur’s, small business owners, women who aren’t moms or if they’ve been mom’s, their kids no longer require sitters, and other women golfer factors beyond the 2009 study.  It’s too important to the future of women’s golf not to delve deeper.  I’m happy to help.

Now I suggest what Lapse No. 3 (again half- lapse) currently is.  I’m a half-lapsed golfer because I’ve been in my own way.  Why? Setting my expectations way too high for where I’m truly at “at this moment” with my game.  The days of my 4, my 7, even my 9 handicaps are in the record books of my life accomplishments.  Today I sit at an Index of 10.9.  Even if the 10.9 index might be temporary, I’ve still got some work to do to get past this latest half-lapse.

Among several of the questions I ask every new client as a new Coaching relationship begins is:  “What is your learning style – Auditory, Tactile, Kinesthetic, Visual, or Emotional?”

In searching for a visual illustration of this, I of course acknowledge there are a lot more styles and descriptions to select from “out there”, but I like to know this about my clients from the beginning.  Why?  So I can be mindful of my style vs. theirs.  I’m an Auditory and Visual learner.  Recognizing where I may or may not have this in common with a client makes me a more effective Coach.

Learning is the acquisition of knowledge.  What’s powerful, is what we do with what we learn in the personal development realm – no matter what style Learner we are.  Development means personal growth.  And, also the internal support structure to sustain and accommodate further growth and development is what we all like to experience in the form of progress and results – no matter what we’re working on.    So, how does this relate to golf?

Recently, I had a new experience in golf instruction.  Ahead of my golf lesson, PGA Pro, Dave Bisbee, took the time to find out what kind of learner I am, what kind of personality I might show up with at his SSI Strategic Links™ Executive Golf School, and he asked me “What would you like to work on today?”.  Often, I use this an the opening question with my Coaching clients at the outset of a session.

A week or so ahead of the school I completed a Personality Assessment online by answering a series of questions provided by SSI using the Birkman International method.  Likely any one reading this who has applied for a job within a big sales organization or worked within an executive team or board of directors may have taken one of these personality profiles such as the Myers Briggs, DISC, Keirsey Temperament Sorter, or “other”.  Strengths Finder 2.0 is very popular now.

Last year, for a board I serve on, as a group we all took the DISC assessment and our a Behaviors and Values Assessment were completed for the group to help illustrate who we are, how were are similar and different, and how we might acknowledge and accept our combined individual traits to work better as a board, naturally for the benefit of the organization we’re serving. (Which happens to be Executive Women’s Golf Association of Dallas).

From my DISC assessments the results for my own Natural and Adapted Styles were a match – illustrating my choice of career was right on the money for my personal style, so I was thrilled with the results.  And as a member of the board, the DISC results helped all of us set goals and create a “playbook” for working together.  Going into the SSI Strategic Links™ Executive Golf School knowing the Birkman results would be used to inform my pro about how to help me with my golf game, I was curious and excited.  And, I was not disappointed.

The weekend ahead of attending the SSI Strategic Links™ Executive Golf School, I played terribly.  I was forced to inwardly acknowledge I was mentally getting in my own way with my approach to golf.  Having been living with the self-imposed “label” former professional, for years I’ve allowed my expectations of auto-pilot golfing greatness to be assigned to me (by me), no matter how much or how little I played or practiced.  Thus, lots of disappointments as my handicap has slowly crept upward these last few years while golf hasn’t been a primary focus in my life.

Because of my own Coach U training, and preparing myself ahead of the full day with Dave and the professionals from SSI, I was able to let go of my “label” (of me) and remain curious as an enthused participant with Dave.  And, when Dave asked me “What have you been working on Krista?” I truthfully told him, “I just need to get out of my own way, and get back to some level of consistency.”  I believe was he prepared to acknowledge that kind of answer coming from me (a person represented by all “Blue”) within the framework of the Birkman methodology.  Their approach makes sense, and I’d like to see other teaching professionals adopt this.

Prior to April 14, 2011, my last real golf lesson was in April of 2000.  11 years since a true “day on the range lesson” working with a PGA Professional.  Since then my swing has been analyzed briefly(meaning less than 15 minutes of observations, and maybe the questions, what’s your handicap? and how long have you played golf?) by a couple of different Pro’s here in Dallas.

Both these Pro’s are using the latest, greatest cutting edge video analysis, showing how my set-up, swing, etc.. doesn’t match up to Tiger Woods, or some other playing professional.  And the nifty telestrator software also enables these pros to draw all over the screen like John Madden used to do for NFL football commentary.

Dave acknowledged he could set up his video and telestrator too, and show my swing side by side with 100 different famous player’s golf swings, but in the end he knew for me, it wouldn’t be that valuable because of what the Birkman results showed him about my personal style.  I’m not the type of person who wants to know where to be within my golf swing at everyone one of 12 points on the diagram of a clock.

Having played for SO long, my muscles have a long memory also.  So sometimes, a pro who doesn’t “get me” gives me way too much stuff; many new swing thoughts and usually delivered in a hurry (you know, the 15 minute cure-all), so I just mentally switch off, and stick with what I (think) know works for me and use the “I know enough to fix it myself” default position).  Gratefully my experience with Dave Bisbee and SSI Strategic Links™ Executive Golf School  wasn’t what some might consider sometimes as a total dismantling of my golf swing.  Thank you.

When we weren’t outside at the Lesson Tee – we were inside the Clubhouse learning about our personal Golf Style Grids.  Doug Dowd and Connie Charles, co-facilitators for  SSI Strategic Links™ Executive Golf illustrated how the results of our individual Birkman profiles help provide each of us a “unique perceptual filter or lens to use individually” as we approach our golf games or performance in business situations.   Briefly, using the grid system which dates back to Hippocrates, a four dimensional view was shown illustrating which quadrants of the grid represent our awareness in golf and also in business: red=aggressive or dominant, green=expressive or risk taking, yellow= low key or routine, and blue=easy going or methodical.

Through these illustrations and by participating within the group in a fun environment we learned how each of us uniquely created our own profile grids based upon our answers to the Birkman assessment; and how our successes on or off the golf course can truly be linked to our own styles of self-awareness, self-management, and relationship management.  The beauty in all of this is how the questionnaire provided speed to the awareness learning process.  Translate to the speed of each individual’s awareness, the instructor’s and facilitator’s awareness of who we each were and how we might act or respond that day.  And finally translate to golf or business settings where the relationship process is now accelerated too.

Next time you’re ready to go seek out instruction for golf, or your favorite hobby, sales training, you name it – do some checking into the preparation and approaches for the person or persons doing the instructing and find a good match for your learning style.  And be honest with yourself about HOW you do learn in the “best case scenario”.  Recognize what works for you and what does not.  You’ll be glad you did.