Bud Light Battle of the Sexes Skins Game pits Sorenstam against Faxon

A baseball versus golf challenge has switch-hitted into a Champions Tour, LPGA Hall-of-Fame battle as Brad Faxon picks up the sticks against Annika Sorenstam next week.

Brad Faxon, a twenty-eight-year veteran of the PGA TOUR and now a Champions Tour star, will fill in for Ken Griffey Jr. at the Forsgate Foundation Charity Golf Classic, Oct. 3-4, at Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township, New Jersey. Griffey is unable to participate due to a minor injury so  Faxon will join fellow headliner, LPGA Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam, and will mingle with participants and fans to raise money for the ANNIKA Foundation and New Jersey-based charities.

Faxon and Sorenstam will participate in The Charity Classic’s VIP Reception and Live/Silent Auction on Monday, Oct. 3, participate in a Skills Exhibition on Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. and later at 3 p.m., wage a friendly “battle of the sexes” over nine holes of golf at Forsgate’s renowned Banks Course in the Bud Light Skins Game. 

Faxon was born in Oceanport, N.J., and raised in Rhode Island. An eight-time winner on the PGA Tour and two-time Ryder Cup team selection, Faxon has amassed over seventeen million dollars in career earnings. In August 2011, Faxon “graduated” to the Champions Tour with his debut at the 3M Championship,and he already boasts one Top 25 finish (T16 at Boeing Classic). 

In addition to being known as one of the best putters on the tour, Faxon is also known as one of the most philanthropic. Over the past 20 years, he has raised millions for children’s charities through a non-profit organization he co-founded with PGA Tour Pro Billy Andrade.  

“We are thrilled that Brad Faxon was able to step in and assist us on short notice,” said Forsgate Country Club General Manager Det Williams.  “From his multiple successes on the golf course to his tireless work for children’s charities, Faxon is a wonderful choice to join Annika and help The Charity Classic reach its fundraising goals.”

Gallery Tickets are only $15 and include admission to all of the Oct. 4 afternoon events.  Tickets are available by calling (732) 656-8911 and may also be purchased on-site.

  

Since 2003, The Forsgate Foundation Charity Classic has raised over $250,000 for worthwhile causes.  This year, the primary beneficiary of the event will be The ANNIKA Foundation, a not-for-profit organization founded by Sorenstam in 2007. The ANNIKA Foundation teaches children the importance of maintaining good health through fitness and nutrition as well as providing aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams.

The Forsgate Foundation will also support local New Jersey charities with any further proceeds from the event.

For the third consecutive year, The Charity Classic will raffle off a new Mercedes (E350 4-matic), courtesy of Mercedes-Benz of Princeton.  The $100 raffle ticket includes admission into the Oct. 3 Live/Silent Auction. For more information, please call (732) 656-8911, visit Forsgate on Facebook, or watch their YouTube video .

Here's a great golf tip from Forsgate PGA Professional on consistency in the golf swing.

Who will win the Battle of the Sexes? My bet is with Faxon because  he's a regular on the Champions Tour. Sorenstam doesn't play in as many competitive golf tournaments as she used to so, although her skills may be up to par, her mindset may not...

Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and friend us on Facebook.

photo credit

Posted via email from stacysolomon's posterous

Tiger Woods-Joe LaCava: Golf's new power couple?

Tiger Woods has officially united with Dustin Johnson's (and Fred Couples') former caddie, Joe La Cava and water coolers around the country as well as the Twitterverse have something to say about the new match made in heaven.

Words ranging from "replacement" for Steve Williams to how Woods "stole" LaCava have been circulating as quickly as the Twitter stream will load.  Tiger, on the other hand, maintains that he has known Joe for many years.

"Mark [Steinberg] and I were approached by a lot of people, including Joe, who expressed an interest in becoming my caddie," Tiger Woods maintained. "This was an important decision, and I wanted to think about it carefully. Also, out of deference for the FedExCup Playoffs, I decided to wait until they were concluding to have substantive talks. We then spoke to Joe and came to an agreement."

Back in the Twitter sphere, Yahoo! Sports claimed Tiger "hijacked DJ's caddie and Tim Rosaforte said, "After Barclays win, Joe LaCava would have been crazy to leave Dustin Johnson for Tiger Woods. 10 less weeks on road was determining factor."

According to Woods, LaCava contacted Tiger...no highjacking or arm-twisting needed.

Although @Kathleennewsie had an interesting take that she was "hoping to see Snooki on the bag", it was Butch Harmon (Johnson's swing coach) who officially broke the news on Sky Sports after speaking with Johnson, adding that he was "shocked" by the move.

"I'm a little disappointed with the way Tiger handled it. But I'm not surprised," added Harmon, believing Woods should have asked DJ before beginning negotiations with LaCava and possibly showing that he knows Woods' character better than most (Tiger gets what Tiger wants?)

Who reached out first? According to Lawrence Donegan of The Guardian UK, LaCava was "telling friends ...he (LaCava) had quickly become disillusioned with life in the fairways with Johnson." Could Couples have also had something to do with the pairing as he put together the current President's Cup team......?

With history possibly in the making, does it really matter at this point?

More importantly, is this good or bad for the new team of Tiger Woods and Joey LaCava?


"It's a "win-win," tweeted Paul Azinger. "TW trying to pass Jack. Joe can be a part of history … no brainer for Joey! It's not like he won't still get paid."

"And he's Tiger Woods," added Zinger.

Enough said.
 
Watch for the new dynamic duo October 6-9th performing live at the Frys.com Open.


Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and friend us on Facebook.

No slam-dunk for former WNBA President leading Golf 2.0 initiative

The PGA of America has engaged former WNBA President Donna Orender as a consultant to lead the Golf 2.0 "Connecting with Her" strategy, a key component in the industry's overall goal of reaching forty million golfers by 2020. 

Golf 2.0 is the new long-range strategic plan for the golf industry to substantially increase the number of golfers, the rounds of golf played and the revenue generated from golf over the next decade among current and potential consumers of the game with three core strategies: "Retain and Strengthen the Golfing Core;" "Engage Lapsed Golfers;" and "Drive New Players" to the game.

If Orender wants to be successful in reaching her goal, start by attracting more women to the publinks. According to Greg Nathan, VP of the National Golf Association, "When women are made to feel as welcomed and comfortable at public courses, their play will go up.” Women also bring with them the "power of the purse" which will increase revenue in other areas of the sport such as clothing and golf  equipment.


Although I feel welcome, I am in the minority as I am comfortable with my level of play. I also actively make it my business to go out as a single golfer and meet and greet other players. Most women feel more confident playing golf with their peers, playing from the same tees. Waiting at the front desk of a public course, you will see about one in every ten golfers is a woman. 

In order to reach potential women golfers, it's also not enough to provide TV coverage hoping that women will see other women playing a sport and want to play it themselves. This new consultant is going to have to cross the great divide reaching out to sports fans in tennis and basketball to make golf more visible, fun and easy to start for non-golfers interested in fashion, travel, and exercise for example.


Orender, who served as Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) President from 2005-10, after working 17 years with the PGA Tour, is the founder of Orender Unlimited, a marketing, media and strategy company in Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

During her tenure with the PGA Tour, Ana Leaird, PGA Tour’s Director of Public Relations and Media Operations said of Donna Orender, "Since she’s been here, tremendous opportunities have opened up for other women. I call it the ripple effect.”


Does she play golf? Not that it's necessary for Orender's new position but, in my opinion, it's important to be able to identify with the core group you will represent in order to understand their needs and desires. And, the answer is yes, she does, according to her tweets, @DonnaOrender.



 In her consulting role with Golf 2.0, Donna Orender will:

• steer industry efforts to grow women's golf participation;
• identify and shape female-specific programming;
• create a welcoming environment for more women to enter the game.
• guide the establishment of partnerships with top women's organizations to leverage knowledge and resources in support of facility adoption and programs. 
• position golf as an anecdote for women achieving balance in their busy lives, all the while pursuing good health, business networking, and family time in a fun-filled environment.

Perhaps Orender should also be working with Mike Whan and the LPGA to stop the losses of golf tourneys?

According to Golf Digest’s Ron Sirak, "women will have played a woeful 23 contests this year -- only 11 of which fielded 144 or more golfers -- and competed for the fewest dollars since 2001."

"The PGA is thrilled to retain Donna Orender to lead in the strategic development of our 'Connecting with Her' initiative for Golf 2.0," said Darrell Crall, PGA senior director, Golf 2.0, for The PGA of America.  

"Donna's expertise in steering the growth of women's sports at the highest level will be critical in guiding the golf industry, as we tap new initiatives to appeal to women, who represent our game's fastest growing demographic."  

Among Orender's many accolades are being named to the 2005 Sporting News' Annual Power 100, 2005 Fox Sports.com's 10 Most Powerful Women in Sports, and the 2007 BusinessWeek's Power 100 Sports lists. 

"Donna Orender's name is synonymous with the growth of women's sports nationwide," added Crall. "We are delighted that she will serve as an advocate in the development of new programs for women to positively connect with the game of golf." 

"I'm excited by this incredible opportunity to make a difference in people's lives through the game of golf," said Orender. "Our goal is to build dynamic and engaging growth-of-the-game programs that passionately appeal to women on both a personal and professional level."



Will Orender be successful retaining/bringing more women into golf?
Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and friend us on Facebook.