Monday, October 10, 2005

Playing Golf in the Rain

I was fortunate to get out of work early with my husband on Friday. We headed over to Saxon Woods Golf Course for a quick nine.

Even though the forecast said rain I figured that it's just as important to hone my skills in bad weather as in good so we decided to see how the elements affect the score, swing, mood and all other factors.


Barry was on his best behavior (c'mon women, you know what I mean). It wasn't raining yet but there was a steady fog creeping in and we could just feel the dampness in the air but we figured that it wasn't the score that was important but the practice.

The cold and damp stiffened my bones and my ability to turn fully seemed harder to do. But they say that you have to work with whatever you're given that day so I took it easy. In doing so my swing slowed down and I developed my tempo which, when it's working, is a thing of beauty.

Rain began to fall. I noticed my golf glove getting a bit slippery. My hands weren't getting dry no matter WHOSE shirt I wiped them on. I noticed that although my distance control was right on the club was spinning around in my hands causing the club to turn over. This forced more of a draw than anticipated.

At one point my golf ball landed in a wet sand trap. Although I tried to get the club into the sand I noticed that it was banging into the sand but not pulling through the sand, thus my ball was hopelessly rolling back to it's initial spot in front of me. It was almost comical. Thank goodness that this was just practice and I wasn't in a competition or my score would have been astronomical!

It is really important, if you plan to improve your game, to know the elements. Wind and rain can wreak havoc with your game if you don't practice in these conditions. I found that out this week AND I wound up having fun doing it. The idea is to take a companion with you to make the experience unforgettable. You'll be laughing about it for years to come!

Monday, September 26, 2005

The President's Cup versus The Solheim Cup

As most of you know I comment weekly on the LPGA Tour. Early in the season I blasted the LPGA because I felt that the action on that tour was stilted. I have to retract my earlier statements and add that the LPGA Tour is both alive and well! With the addition of a new "crew" of young talent and a new slogan "These Girls Rock" the LPGA is being watched by more viewers than ever before!

The PGA Tour was never in danger of losing viewership. The guys have the wherewithall to hit the ball a great distance longer than their female counterparts. Longer shots usually equal more excitement. I heard yesterday that Stuart Appleby can hit the ball over 400 yards on occasion! That's immense! Annika, on the other hand, can hit a drive about 280 regularly. The women also play golf from the men's tee whereas the men are all the way backat the tournament tees. Talk about a disparity.

But I must admit that my level of excitement was equally shared between both the President's Cup played out this weekend and the Solheim Cup which was completed several weeks ago.

I will try to examine what I find so irresistable about both tournaments.

Both are team sports. Golf is usually played as a single. You can go out and play by yourself on a golf course or hook up with a few golfers who need a fourth but it's still you against yourself. Not with these two events. It's almost like college golf which pits team against team.

Not only is are two teams facing off but its the rest of the world challenging the United States. Why is it always that way? Most of the guys on ROW play golf alongside the Americans weekly. Most have received their college education as well as their golf training in the States. So why do we have to watch these two teams square off? What are they trying to prove? Is it just for the sport or is it because the media understand that people already enjoy watching sports like football, where two teams challenge each other for a prize of some kind?

Well, it works! I can't keep my eyes off of it! I cheer until my throat gets raw whenever the Americans are up against any other team. It could also be world events that causes me to cheer so loudly for the home team. I mean, everyone in the world seems to have a beef with the USA but at the same time when they need us they're our buddies.

Okay, back to why I love this kind of competition. I think I root for the Americans because I happen to know who they are, steir stories and their faces. I don't really know all of the ROW team although I ry watch European golf whenever I can. But, in the case of Trevor Immelman versus Stewart Cink I had no favorites but still chanted "USA" "USA" whenever I saw a red hat.

In regard to the Solheim Cup I was also pleased with the look of the team as a whole. The outfits were very smart and the talent on Team USA decorated themselves with glittery American flags and red, white and blud nailpolish. Because THEY really got into it, so did I!

The European Solheim Cup team, on the other hand, wre all dressed in black, from head to toe. It almost looked as if I was witnessing a funeral. When I was little, older ladies who came from Italy used to wear alot of black. They didn't speak much English and nodded alot. It looked okay on them I guess because they were elderly but it made the younger European golfers seem a bit frightening.

Lastly, I think I enjoyed the Solheim Cup just a wee bit more than I did the President's Cup. Although I was happy that both USA teams won, I felt more in tune with the women. Okay, being a woman helps. I can more easily identify with a woman's golf swing than with her male counterpart. And I also enjoy trying to pick out which swing more closely resembles mine.

In conclusion I'm happy that these team sports exist. Team spirit allows the masses to cheer for their heroes and gives us yet another outlet which is considered to be a sport for individuals. I just wish that when I was younger I had the opportunity to learn about golf. Parents should understand the balance of sports and knowledge and try to give their kids a balance of the two. It would have been great to represent my school in team unison and feel the cameradierie which was evident in both these competitions.

Friday, September 02, 2005

My First 39!

It was a day just like any other. I insisted Barry and I leave the business early as it was the start of the Labor Day weekend and I really felt we needed a break.

We got to Saxon Woods early. We had a 4:00pm tee-off but I really needed to putt and chip a little before going out since I don't get the opportunity to play or practice much anymore.

I spent about 15 minutes taking long, lazy swings with my sand wedge first, then taking out my 7-iron. I wanted to make sure that I was also mentally prepared. Sometimes when I rush out and don't have the chance to settle down it reflects poorly in my golf score and I just can't get my round going until the 6th or 7th hole.

I went through nine holes with no expectations, lazily smiling and enjoying the time we had together.

I finished with a birdie on the 9th hole after just missing a short birdie attempt on the 8th. But I kew I was doing well but had no idea just how good I was actually golfing!

When we were done with the 9 holes Barry stated that I had 6 pars and the one birdie on the ninth for a total score of 39! WOW, I never scored in the 30's before!

I was so excited that since that day I've been telling everyone about my score and the easy way it was attained!

My next goal is to score par, but I would really like to do it for all 18 holes. That IS the game, isn't it?

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Danielle Amiee Wins Big Break III

But what about golf beginner Pam Crikelair?

For all of the people who watched the Big Break III on Tuesday nights, most were disappointed when Danielle Amiee won last night. Personally, I think the best person at the time won, and although I didn't like her attitude and how she tried to psyche out 2nd placer Pam Crikelair, she did finally win.

But what about Pam, the Westchester County native who is also a golf beginner? According to Pam, she never even OWNED a set of golf clubs as recently as three years ago! AND, she made it into the finals of a very grueling competition. As Pam stated, "This is what I wanted to do before the show and it's still what I want to do now".

So, how can a beginner at golf make it to the level of competition that a girl that Danielle Amiee, Futures Tour player, did? Is it in her genes or was it alot of practice...Crikelair responded, "The experience was like nothing I could have prepared for. Just the anxiety and stress and emotions of it. We didn't realize how intense and how difficult it would be in that sense. But, sometimes stress is alot of fun."

Constantly being badgered by the outspoken Aimee didn't help Pam's spirit at all, but she perservered and came out in the number two spot regardless.

So, whenever you golf beginners think that you can't do something, be reminded of Pam Crikelair who, against all odds, almost won the Big Break III competition with all heart and a very solid mental attitude.

Read more about Danielle Amiee and Pam Crikelair and Amiee's challenge to win at the Michelob Ultra Open, her first LPGA event!

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Mickelson at Pebble Beach:Wins Back-to-Back on the PGA Tour

Not even Mike Weir could stop the charge that came from Phil Mickelson at the 2005 Pebble Beach Pro Am this past weekend.

Canadian Weir came close with the best round of the day, a 5-under 67. Even when Phil dropped his lead down to 4 strokes after bogeying on the ninth and tenth holes, he rebounded with a birdie on the 11th. This was the shot he needed to regain confidence in his game and finally win for the second time this year.


Mickelson is no stranger to dramatic finishes.
He rarely plays it safe, although when he does, he winds up easily demolishing the competition. For the first 3 rounds, Phil pushed through all of the competitors in the field, at one time having a 7 shot lead.


This is Mickelson's 25th win on the PGA Tour.
Now at over $2 million in earnings, he sits atop the money list, with Singh and Tiger trailing in 2nd and 3rd place, respectively. Mickelson is now also the world's 4th ranked player, overtaking Retief Goosen with last week's win at the FBR Open.


Phil will now rest for one week. He will not play at the Nissan Open, where Mike Weir will defend his title. Tiger will be among the PGA Tour players in the field, so look for an action-packed tournament.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Playing Golf with Friends

Yesterday I went out with a friend of mine, a senior men's player, who originally insisted (last season) that I should play from the white tees. I took his advice and haven't looked back since. However good his intentions were, and however well they worked for me, I cannot say that you should do the same.

I find that playing with friends (including my golf buddy) although they may have good intentions, always try to give you advice during a round of golf. During one hole, he stood behind me, waiting for me to hit my shot (driver off the tee) only to tell me that I looked a little off balance and "...here's how to fix it".

Although might have seen a problem in that shot, I chose not to listen and to proceed with my round. That's my advice to you...

Make sure to block out all golf talk, from well-meaning friends to those who try to "trash talk"..you know what I mean. There's always someone in the crowd who wants to tell you how great their round is or how you shouldn't hit left because of that bunker straight ahead...etc.

DON'T LISTEN! Try to block all extraneous noise out and concentrate on how nice the day is or on a special song you've been carrying on in your head.