Friday, July 09, 2010

Michelle Wie says "Tomorrow is a Whole New Day" at U.S. Open

Here is the Michelle Wie transcript after an apparent first round golf meltdown at the U.S. Women's Open. At least Wie remains positive and when you are positive there is still hope!

Will Michelle Wie make the cut? Oakmont is not allowing for easy scoring and the current projected cut is +11!

MICHELLE WIE
Q. You found yourself 8 over after eight holes. Must be dejecting. What do you say to yourself? It's not easy to make birdies and make up that ground.

MICHELLE WIE: Oh, yeah, it's like I'm playing fantastic right now. It's a great day. But, I felt a little better. Hopefully tomorrow will be a lot better.

Q. What are the things you need to improve on tomorrow?
MICHELLE WIE: Everything. (Laughing.)

Q. That's a tall order.
MICHELLE WIE: Hopefully I can pull it off.

Q. What kind of positives can you take away from today?
MICHELLE WIE: Positives? You know, I'm trying to find 'em. You know, just had a couple of good shots out there. I say a couple. Not many. But hopefully tomorrow will be a whole new day and hopefully I'll play a lot better.

Q. It's a tough not to get frustrated?

MICHELLE WIE: I was trying not to today. It's kind of one of those days where nothing goes as planned. But, you know, I felt better coming in, so tomorrow hopefully start off on the right foot.
Try and make up for a couple birdies and try and have a good weekend.

Q. Was it more your game or more the golf course that was troublesome?

MICHELLE WIE: Oh, it was definitely my game. I didn't play well at all today.

Q. You missed a lot of fairways.
MICHELLE WIE: Yeah, you can't really do that. Mostly I think it was just the putting that got me. You know, I felt like my irons were good. My wedges were good. I just need to put it in the fairways so I can hit those.

Q. (Indiscernible) After that, how do you settle yourself down?

MICHELLE WIE: There was nothing I could do. You know, I try my hardest and things didn't really work out. I just try to move forward.

Q. You played better on the back. Does that give you any hope for tomorrow, you know, a little bit of momentum going into tomorrow?
MICHELLE WIE: Tomorrow is a whole new day. I'm just going to go out there and try to shoot my best.



The U.S. Women's Open First Round Notes and Transcripts for the following golfers can be found here.  
Brittany Lang, -2
M.J. Hur, -1
Amy Yang, -1
Inbee Park, -1
Mhairi McKay, E
Sakura Yokomine, E
Cristie Kerr, +1
Paula Creamer, +1
Kristy McPherson, +1
Song-Hee Kim, +1

Eun-Hee Ji, +6



NOTABLE TEE TIMES:

Morning tee times
7:00 a.m.         (a) Kelli Shean*, (a) Jaye Marie Green, Esther Choe(# 1 tee)
7:33 a.m.         Natalie Gulbis, Inbee Park*, Pat Hurst (# 1 tee)
7:33 a.m.         Stacy Lewis, Amy Yang*, Alexis Thompson (# 10 tee)
7:44 a.m.         Juli Inkster, Jee Young Lee, Christina Kim (# 1 tee)
7:44 a.m.         Cristie Kerr, Yani Tseng, Anna Nordqvist (# 1 tee)
8:06 a.m.         M.J. Hur*, Helen Alfredsson, Katherine Hull (# 10 tee)
8:28 a.m.         Brittany Lang*, Momoko Ueda, Seon Hwa Lee (# 10 tee)
Afternoon tee times
12:30 p.m.       Mhairi McKay*, Brittany Altomare, Charlotte Majorkas (#1 tee)
1:03 p.m.         Ai Miyazato, Jiyai Shin, Michelle Wie (# 1 tee)
1:03 p.m.         Morgan Pressel, Maria Hjorth, Candie Kung (# 10 tee)
1:14 p.m.         Angela Stanford, Suzann Pettersen, Paula Creamer (# 1 tee)
1:14 p.m.         Brittany Lincicome, Sakura Yokomine*, Heekyung Seo (# 10 tee)



Interesting to see Ai Miyazato paired with Michelle Wie and that Wie already started Round 2 with a bogey!

MICHELLE WIE Live Scoring


Rnd 2
 Rnd 1# 39 43 82
 Status +12 +12
ROUND 2



Thursday, July 08, 2010

Michelle Wie sings the U.S. Open blues

Round one of the U.S. Women's Open is underway and it looks as if Michelle Wie is already struggling to stay above the cut line! Yet another climb to mediocrity for the golfer who was once on everyone's lips as the female Tiger Woods!

 

The LPGA leaderboard currently has Wie's score at +9 with three double bogeys, several bogeys with a few pars thrown in to add a little spice to the mix. Perhaps it would have been better if Michelle would have failed to qualify as it was during the 2009 Open where Wie wound up missing the cut by one stroke.

 

Sure Oakmont Country Club is a tough test but major tournaments are meant to bring out the best golfers and everyone is playing under the same conditions so, since there is plenty of golf left to play, get busy Michelle.

“It’s always a grind,” Wie says of the national tournament. “It’s a tough golf course. I just have to play the best I can and come out on top.”

 

Recent tweets by Michelle Wie ("themichellewie"):

On Oakmont CC  : So excited for the US Open this week! We are playing at Oakmont CC, so challenging but so beautiful! http://fb.me/AWfNyiHT

 

Is the U.S. Open all about the shoes for MW?  :  As for Check out my US Open surprise shoes from Nike Golf! I loveee them!!! http://fb.me/sxRa1SXi 

 

Posted via email from stacysolomon's posterous

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Top Golf Travel Destinations from Conde Nast - Fact or Phony?

The Top 80 Golf Travel Destinations in the June edition of Conde Nast Magazine were taken to task by golf and travel writer Larry Olmstead who has trouble understanding why some of golf courses and "dream destinations" were left off the list. These vacation hot spots, mentions Conde Nast, were chosen by thousands of resort golfers based on varying standards from course design, golf staff, rooms and service, dining and location.

The subjective nature of the article should hardly be perceived of as "stupid journalism" and should only be considered as a guideline for golfers sitting on the fence about where to travel and what golf courses to consider.

Four Seasons Resort, Maui at Wailea, Blue Course


In his first article about the "stupid in golf journalism", Olmstead states that, "a single respondent can make the difference between a property being ranked among the best in the world or being left off the list."

In his third tirade against the Conde Nast Magazine article, Mr. Olmstead continues to make a few serious points regarding omissions to the list and "how many will actually buy plane tickets and make reservations and tee times, and in the process, how many will get ripped off and waste their time. I especially pity those who will arrive at the “best” golf resort to find little or no golf at all."

The poll was based upon golf travelers' personal experiences and, although some people may disagree with the results, this should be considered as a "bucket list" of sorts, where golfers can check venues off the list, if lucky enough, not a "be-all-and-end-all" guide when traveling through Arizona, Hawaii, South Carolina and Florida.

I see Hilton Head Island Marriott is listed for example and, although I have enjoyed several vacations in South Carolina, both in Hilton Head and throughout Myrtle Beach, I cannot discount nor give this vacation spot accolades.

Therefore, when you peruse through the golf destinations on this list, use it as a "thought-provoker" and then get on the internet or ask friends and travel agents but make sure to do your research!


Monday, July 05, 2010

Macy's Fireworks in New York 2010 #NYC WOW!

LPGA Tour Players on Display!

LPGA Tour players have been hitting the newsstands this year. Here are all the covers below from LPGA.com.

Click on the link to see more!
Cristie Kerr
Golf Week - July 2
Anna Nordqvist
Lady Golfer - July
Se Ri Pak
KoreAm - June
Anna Rawson
Golf Week For Her - May 19



Lorena Ochoa
Casas & Gente - May
Natalie Gulbis
Golf Fitness - Spring
Suzann Pettersen
Norsk Golf - Issue 1
Lorena Ochoa
Golfweek - April 30
Yani Tseng
Golfweek - April 9
Brittany Lincicome
Lady Golfer - April
Kristy McPherson
Golfweek - March 26
Anna Nordqvist
Caras Golf - March
Paula Creamer
Ladies Links Fore Golf
Natalie Gulbis
Golf Digest Singapore
Crisie Kerr
Golfweek - February 19
Mike Whan
Golf World - February 15
Sandra Gal
Golf Digest Czech Republic
Beatriz Recari
Green
Jiyai Shin
Golf Digest - January
Anna Rawson
Lady Golfer - January
Stacy Solomon
golfforbeginners@aol.com
Golf for Beginners, because we're always learning!
Follow Golf for Beginners on Twitter!
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Thursday, July 01, 2010

Hilton Head Island, a golf and ocean lovers paradise!

Harbortown Golf Links, Hilton Head IslandHilton Head Island has some of the most pristine beaches and prestigious golf courses in South Carolina, as well as the most blood-thirsty mosquitoes that I have ever encountered. Sunscreen, bug spray and a great camera are necessities for this adventure!

On my first visit to Hilton Head a few years back I was a golf beginner and so Hilton Head golf was not a top priority: it was all about the sun and fun surrounding the island.

Hilton Head Sea PinesMy husband and I chose to stay at Sea Pines Resort, a 5,000 acre sprawling enclave of rental apartments, villa rentals, hotels and an inn spanning a third of the entire Island. The Resort is also home to Harbour Town Golf Links, home to the PGA Tour's Verizon Heritage event (congrats to Jim Furyk!) Harbour Town is also named as one of the ten most beautiful golf courses in the country by ForbesTraveler.com and crowned as the number twelve resort course in the nation.

Although I considered it essential to have access to the amenities which make the stay in Hilton Head more than just a golf vacation; spa, fine dining and even bicycling beachfront, Sea Pines Resort also has four pro shops, vital for any golf vacation, and there are a plethora of shops, craft stores and dining options to indulge the family.

In addition to Sea Pines, Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort is also a worthwhile vacation option. Golf Magazine awarded this retreat a Silver Medal as one of the country's "Top 75 Resorts" and the Resort equals the beauty of Sea Pines so either decision will leave you with a rich vacation experience.

The choices of where to play golf, how to get the best Hilton Head tee times and what to see on the Island are expansive and that is where we needed assistance. While my husband insisted on 36 holes of golf per day, I limited him to one round. Come on, we took the vacation to be together!

Sure, the lighthouse visible on the 18th hole of Harbour Town make it a shoo-in for a visit and a photo-opportunity but, with an assortment of high-end golf courses, it is no wonder that Golf Digest readers named Hilton Head Island number 'ten' on its list of the world's best golf resorts!

Considered a "modern masterpiece" and designated as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary", Heron Point at Sea Pines underwent a multi-million dollar restoration and was reopened in 2007. It is considered both dramatic and difficult and is located only a mile from Harbour Town.

Heron Point Hole 4

One of the oldest golf courses on Hilton Head Island is The Ocean Course at Sea Pines. Although you will see lagoons and water everywhere, you will barely see the ocean here. This course was also awarded a "Beginner Friendly" award from the National Golf Course Owners Association!

The 40-year-old Robert Trent Jones Course at Palmetto Dunes Resort is not too difficult for the average golfer but you need to make good shots or be punished if you don't! The Arthur Hills Course at the same Resort is surrounded by palmetto trees and, if you're looking for a visual spectacle, the elevation changes will take your breath away.


Arthur Hills Golf Course


Palmetto Dunes also offers Segway X2 personal transporters and air-conditioned golf carts, if you have trouble walking or pulling a cart around the golf course. Ah, the modern comforts of life...hope a drink cooler is attached too!

One important reminder for golfers who have not yet traveled to South Carolina: alligators will come up and "greet you" on every course with no shame. They are hungry and looking for food!

The salty ocean air, the traditional southern charm and the ability to play golf on some of the best courses in the United States make Hilton Head Island in South Carolina a vacation experience worth investigating and experiencing but I issue you fair warning. Once you visit Hilton Head Island for the first time, you will yearn for a return trip!