Silent Auction Score

I attended a fundraiser and dinner for Mobility International USA and found myself roaming the aisles of the silent auction looking for something to bid on. I dug deep between the gift baskets and handmade artwork for something that would resonate with me. Dinner for two here, gift certificate for there, massage for this, spa for that. And there it was. A lone piece of paper sitting by itself on the back of the table.

A golf lesson with Casey Martin.

Without starting yet another debate about whether a golfer with a disability should or should not be able to compete with a cart in the PGA, he's a local hero, a great golfer and an amazing role model for people with disabilities.

While I should have been raising my price due to my desire to help raise funds for MIUSA, the truth is, there was another woman bidding on the lesson for her 14 year old son. If she hadn't been so sure of herself, I probably wouldn't have dropped a car payment on the deal, but I've never been one to handle competition very gracefully.

I think I need to get a lesson before the lesson. What do you think? Have you ever cleaned your house before you had someone come clean your house? No? Me either.

Junior Girls Gearing Up for Championship

The website is finally up and running for the 2007 U.S. Girls' Junior and it looks to be an exciting field. This is always a great time to watch the up and coming athletes that are sure to give us years of great golf as well as that deep regret for not golfing sooner.

Madison Pressel is in the mix along with other familiar names such as Alexis Thompson, Kimberly Kim, Mina Harigae, and Jenny Shin. I'm keeping my eye on Jennifer Johnson from La Quinta, CA. She shot a 67 in the qualifying round and recently won the Mission Hills Desert Junior golf tournament three strokes ahead of Jenny Shin. Johnson, 15, was also selected as the West Player of the Year on the FCWT (Future Collegians World Tour).

Enough thinking about golf, I need to go play some. If only I had started when I was younger....

Golf Guilt

Every now and then I still suffer from a little golf guilt. Sometimes it hits me when I'm telling one of my environmentally gifted friends that I have to go, I have a tee time. Other times it hits me when I'm working on an action plan to help the homeless in our community.

Today it happened at a child neglect summit.

I couldn't help it. I could see the sun pouring in through the skylights and I wanted to be lifted out and set gently on the finely manicured tee box with my disobedient Cobra driver. Everyone else in the room appeared to be focused on the very real and imminent issue of abused and neglected children. But, I was different. With every slide of a child waiting for a home, I saw a club needing to be held, swung freely from my hands and tucked carefully back to place in my bag.

It's not that I don't care or that I'm not passionate about the issue. It's just that sometimes you just need a break from it all. I can see why business deals made their way onto the golf course.
I long for the day that it's politically acceptable to take public and social services to the course. I'll probably be 102.

Out of the Dog House for $119

I'm hoping that none of my friends actually read this blog. Otherwise, the $119 could have been better spent on a little self help, wine and organic groceries for myself. Instead, it was spent on a new golf bag to keep me out of trouble.

Here's how it worked out.

My best friend was in on the whole mixed up, tangled up golf drama web from the beginning. The truth is, this isn't the first minor detail I've forgotten. There's been a few forgotten things and I'm only 40...seems a little soon, but it's been a tough year...could be stress related.

As I was relaying the whole mess over lunch, I remembered that she had an older version Sun Mountain carry bag that could help me out of my mess.

"Hey, I have an idea", I said with that squinted look that could only mean trouble. "How about I buy you a new bag and you let me give yours away as my used one. You'll get a brand new bag out of the deal." She probably could have bargained an electric cart out of me with my desperation to acquire a second used bag for my predicament.

"I'm willing to look around", she answered.

The next day I dragged her to the pro shop within 15 minutes of the front doors clicking open.
"Anything you want", I exclaimed, "look at all the fun colors."
She poked around, tried bags on, frowned at the new strap design and seemed basically uninterested in obtaining a new bag. So I did what you would expect. I begged the salesman to sell me a used bag. I repented my golf sin to him and he took me to the back room where he uncovered piles of bags with broken legs and zippers. The dark, still pile in the room without windows was depressing. I couldn't possibly lower myself to this level. I had to buy a new bag.

I returned to the sales floor to find my buddy happily sporting a new, apple green and black bag on her back. I think it's the exact same bag as she already has, but she's sure the legs are better. $119 later and I'm feeling pretty good. We'll see if this works out.

Promises, Promises...A Golf Girlfriend's Goof

It all started with a glass of wine...I think. It must have been a late Wednesday evening, somewhere between 8 and 9, when I made the promise that has me in a 7th grade, best friend flashback. The trouble is...I made the same promise three weeks later to my soccer buddy who just took up golf.

I promised them both my Sun Mountain 3.5 carry bag.

It seems simple enough. Just tell one of them that I double promised, right?

Here's where the drama sets in and memories of junior high keep me up at night. Promise #2 was made to Promise #1's ex'es new girlfriend. I can send you an org chart if you're really interested in the details of how that all worked out, but the short of it is, I'm in a lose/lose situation in two worlds I never saw colliding.

I'm going to have to buy a new golf bag. I'm going have to suck it up, drop a hundred bucks, drag the thing through a bunker, drive over it, rub it in some fresh grass clippings and act like it's been my faithful companion for the last two years.

Are you reading this thinking, "Why doesn't she just come clean about it?"

I tried. I told promise #1, my faithful Wednesday golf partner, what I had done. I was hoping she'd ease my guilt, offer to just go get her own bag, and let me off the hook. It didn't work out that way. Instead, she offered to give me her old bag to give promise #2. Seemed reasonable, so I said, "Okay, sure."

Then I remembered the ex had given her the golf clubs and would probably remember the bag.

Tomorrow I'm headed to the pro shop. Some mistakes are worth $129.

Everyone Deserves A Second Chance

As I sipped my morning coffee and half listened to the morning news, I was intrigued by the announcement that The Today Show was featuring a story on The Man Behind The Mulligan. Even I, the queen of mulligans, did not realize this term originated by someone in our lifetime and from the United States. I guess I should have known we would have invented cheating...I mean forgiveness...in golf.


I stopped taking mulligans when I realized my first shot was never as bad as it seemed and the second shot was always worse than the first. Why stand on the tee and take two bad shots when you can dash down the fairway and just finish the hole? I have been known to take multiple tee shots on some of those beautiful holes with a view where it feels like you could hit to the equator. But, only if I'm all alone at the end of the day.


Even though I don't take them, I'm a firm believer in second chances...on and off the course. Life's too short to take any one shot too seriously.

Pak Overcomes Pressel's Hole in One

It's not that often that the player who starts off looking unbeatable is actually unbeatable. But Se Ri Pak clenched a victory today for her fifth win at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic. Not only was her golf as consistent and smooth as always, but Morgan Pressel had been closing in on her over the last two days.

By the time the coverage was picked up and aired, we had all missed Morgan Pressel's hole in one on number 6 that seemed like it might be the momentum she needed to win the tourney. But Pak came back with her steady hand and dropped a few birdies to give her the lead.

Other than a few technical difficulties, this was a great weekend of women's golf. It was good to see Pak take her fifth title, but Morgan Pressel is looking really hot right now and may just land a few more trophies and big checks before the year is through.

Pak Stays Strong as Mallon Moves Up

Se Ri Pak had another great round at the Jamie Farr Owen's Corning on Friday. While not as spectacular as her opening 8 under, her 3 under performance on Friday has her in the lead by 5 strokes. She not only played great, but as always, looks great with her sister designed clothing line that's a cross between golf and lighthouse watching.

The more exciting part of the day was watching Meg Mallon slowly and deliberately climb her way to a tie for 4th with an amazing 6 under performance for the day. She is definitely not out of contention and if she can find her consistency today, I'll be surprised if she's not tied for the lead for Sunday's final day.

Nancy Lopez, on the other hand, struggled through the day. Though gracious, her game is off, and she finished with an 83. I say she's only 50, and she could get right back in there with the rest of the pack, but she's going to have a tough time competing with the new rising stars. I still love to see the 50 plus out there, so hopefully she'll stick it out and keep coming back. 50 is the new 30, right?

Pak Starts Off Strong

I've always been a big college basketball fan, and after years of heartbreak, have finally learned to keep my hopes under check until the last two minutes. In golf, it's not usually the last two minutes, but sometimes it's the last two holes, and it's always the last two days.

That said, Se Ri Pak had a great start in Day 1 of the Owen's Corning Classic. She opened the day with a bogey on number 1, but corrected quickly and finished the round with an 8 under 63. I've never been a stats person, but it seems to me that she's won this tourney at least four times and is off to a good start. I might have to dig into that research tomorrow.

There are plenty of notables in the top 10 of the leaderboard. I'll have to see how Friday goes and whether the last two days, two minutes or two holes will uncover this weekend's final trophy holder.

2007 Owens Corning Field of Champions

The pairings have been released for this weekend's Owens Corning Classic and it promises to be a great weekend of women's golf.

There are some noticeable absences with Sorenstam, Ochoa, Inkster, Wie and Webb out of the mix, but there is a great leaderboard packed with a combo of classic and new talent. Stay tuned for updates on the progress of long time notables, Nancy Lopez, Meg Mallon and Pat Hurst along with defending champion, Mi Hyun Kim.

The tournament is packed with the best and is sure to be a weekend of great golf.

USGA Conitnually Searching for Ways To...

...do nothing.

I was really never irritated with the USGA until I started this blog and began a daily campaign of reading and research. In addition to writing this blog and doing my weekly 50 hour plus job, I devote a significant amount of energy to selling the game of golf to the non-golfers out there. I'm as annoying as a reformed smoker. shhh...I used to work on a golf course...a country club...had free privileges...and never, ever swung a club. WHAT WAS I THINKING?

Anyway, I had a friend recently pay their USGA dues and request a hat from the Women's US Open as opposed to Oakmont. I have to say that it seems like a totally reasonable request. They have both hats available. Here's the response that the USGA gave to the request for a different hat.

Thank you for your recent correspondence to the United States Golf Association concerning women’s visors. We appreciate your comments. Many of our members question why the USGA does not offer a ladies’ visor as an alternative to the U.S. Open promotional hat offered. The USGA cannot accommodate multiple hat styles at this time. We are continually looking for ways in which to implement something of this nature and hope to find a means by which to accommodate this in the future.

Who asked for a visor? And I'd hope that they don't spend too much time "continually looking for ways in which to implement something of this nature...." It's a hat, the one in the next bin with the pine needles instead of the squirrel. You have them in stock. Does this take a process?

Instead of spending their time scratching their heads and "hopingto find a means by which to accommodate this in the future", they ought to just stick a hat in a mailer and be done with it. I think the possibility of a Senior Women's Open is slim when they can't even figure out how to provide a hat to their loyal and paying customers.

What Is Tommy Bahama Thinking?

Are we athletes or potatoes? Doesn't this look like it's straight from the Russet line? Ready for a charity scramble in Boise?

It would almost be cooler if it was actually made from a potato bag and still had the logos on it. Kind of a chic urban farmer look. Great for a nightclub, but a golf course?

No wonder men hesitate to golf with us. This is what they think we might show up in.

I don't need to look like a man, but I definitely don't want to look like a bag of spuds.

Home On The Range

Another one of my friends came out of the golf closet today. I know it was hard for her to give up her complete identity as a soccer player, but she's going to be an awesome golfer. It's so fun to go to a pro shop and range with someone who's never golfed. Why is it they always head straight to the left handed clubs?

While she was testing out a few different models with the kind young man who got stuck with us, I snuck away to the range and swung all my clubs for the first time since my surgery. I was supposed to wait until the end of next week, but the pro shop smell was making me crazy. Everyone was doing it. What was I supposed to do?

The clubs felt great and my swing was back in no time. I even pulled out the giant Cobra M Speed Driver and let 'er rip. I'm looking forward to heading out this week for a full round of normal golf, no more of this chipping and putting stuff.

When I wandered back to the sales area, I found my pal crushing the ball with a hybrid 3. It's going to be a great summer after all.

My Letter to the USGA

Thanks to the Waggle Room and The Golf Chick for bringing up the non existence of a US Senior Women's Open. While I had thought today's blog would be dedicated to some of my deeper thoughts on a few inequities in the golf world, what ended up happening was the development of my open letter to the USGA. Feel free to cut and paste.

Dear USGA,

While wandering around the internet looking for even the smallest morsel of women's golf news today, I came across a blog site that pointed out something that's been bothering me for years. Rather than shaking my head and wishing for better, I thought I'd take the time to write.

Why doesn't the USGA sponsor a U.S. Senior Women's Open? I guess I probably know the answer to the question, but I'd like to support you in changing direction on this and embracing women's golf on a deeper level.

It seems to me that the popularity of golf is growing with women at a rapid rate, yet somehow the catering to our desires stops at the pro shop cash register. While I certainly don't speak for everyone, I think I can safely say that we want more than a credit card bill and a sporty visor. We want to see these incredible athletes continuing on their careers as their hair turns grey, their shots get shorter and straighter and their confidence overcomes the pressing cameras and fans.

In a country that is searching for ways to overcome the somewhat recent, yet huge decline in physical activity and growing obesity numbers, I think we'd all like to see more encouragement to keep moving. Without an activity that matters to us, why do we care when our hips start hurting, our knees start stabbing with pain and our shorts seem to keep shrinking every wash?

We need a US Women's Senior Open. Don't wait until the great ones are gone, we want to see them play now. I'm willing to bet there's a lot of us out here that will help you with promotions and marketing.

Sincerely,
Sarah
@The Daily Mulligan

Tiger's Tantrum

Most of us love golf for all the same reasons we hate it. We have ups, we have downs and we’re never sure if an ugly drive that bounced its way through the nearby forest will be followed by an amazing wormburner that leaves our balls resting delicately on the edge of the green. There are few places you can experience those extreme mental and physical shifts in such a beautiful surrounding. I’d argue that fly fishing comes close, but who has time for that?

I don’t like club throwers. An occasional slight bang on the sand seems okay, it’s kind of pillow fight material, but a good hard toss of the club seems more like ice hockey material. One of my favorite things to see is how a golfer will respond to a bogey, okay a triple bogey. Do they handle it with grace, walking casually over and marking the ball for another look. Or do they throw a club?

Bubba Watson had a fit during the open, botched a shot out of the rough and seemed like he hit three more balls before his caddie had even looked up. Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but it was close. The point is, Bubba didn’t throw a club. He turned a deep shade of red, possibly fire engine, but just continued on his bogey filled day.

I want to find a reason to say I’m okay with Tiger throwing clubs, but since he didn’t throw them directly at someone who tried to harm his family, I’m going to have to say I’m bummed. How bad can it really be for him, he’s the host of the AT&T National. He didn’t have to go to a payday loan store or get his coffee from a gas station…I mean, he is Tiger Woods, right?

The day I throw a club will be the day I take up yoga. It’ll also be the day I give up the best sport I’ve ever played.

Birdie Dog

I've always been a bit of a golf course scavenger, picking up lost balls, abandoned tees and various other items, but last night was the first time I've brought something living home from my local links.

Birdie Dog. He showed up with the drink cart gal who had captured him running like a wild man on an adjacent roadway. I'm not exactly sure how she captured him, but I think a colorfully canopied golf cart in the middle of a major intersection might have been involved.

He seemed nice enough, knew how to sit, lay down, fetch balls...uh, fetch balls, did I mention fetching balls? And then the fireworks started and I knew how Mr. Birdie Dog a.k.a. Buddy had turned up in the middle of the street. Even after we medicated him (there's a vet in the house), he tried to tear out a few doors and a wall before he was placed in a small, plastic crate for the evening.

His owner waited until almost 5 p.m. to check animal control. He admittedly was hoping that someone would just keep him. Loser. Anyway, I delivered him to his owner only to discover that he lived at a house I might have hit a few balls at over the year. I didn't get a regular reward, but I did get a bag of Callaway balls. Not bad for a few doors.

My Independence Day...Coming Out as a Golfer

This is my first 4th of July holiday without my mom and though I’ve tried to keep away from such a personal and sad topic, the day is filled with memories of her.

Most of my friends miss their lost friends and relatives the most during the “holidays”. But for me, the 4th of July is that holiday. She had decided upon retirement to live in glorious Taos, NM, but could never give up her home and friends in Texas. So, as she aged, I made the pilgrimage twice a year to help her move back and forth between her two homes. Every 4th of July I would fly from Oregon to Dallas/Fort Worth, spend a few days working around the house and packing her personal belongings and pets into an oversized van. Then we would make the 13 hour drive together, I’d spend a few days in New Mexico, and fly back to Oregon. It was totally insane, but you do these things for people you love.

It was on one of those trips that my golf obsession was ignited. Having grown up three blocks from a country club that we belonged to, but never once golfed at, I had to work up my courage to tell her I’d been golfing…twice. I wasn’t sure she would understand. Would she still love me? She would have to realize that she was never going to get pictures of a thriving garden of layered perennials, colors perfectly matched as if they’d been picked off the Behr color chart. Never would she receive a handmade Christmas present made of wood, polished by hand as the ancient people did. No more weekends untangling fishing reels, I needed to let her know those dreams were gone.

“Mom, I know you’re going to think this is totally stupid, but I think I’ve taken up golf. I know it’s not what you expected of me. I know it’s a waste of money and I promise I’ll never act like one in front of your friends….”
“Oh honey, I think that’s wonderful. You can play golf for a lifetime and it’s just such a classy and wonderful sport.”

She then went on to tell me statistics on all the male golfers on tour at the time. She was a big Tiger fan and I heard about him and his childhood for the next fifteen minutes. The story was broken with her suddenly looking up at me and asking, “Do you have clubs?”

We were off to Bass Pro Shops where all beginners who are shy about golfing should start. You can walk boldly in and pretend you are there for bait or a new pair of shorts. You could even be buying a shotgun for your anniversary.

Mom bought me my first set of clubs. She insisted on it. I got a lot of play time out of that $139 set and passed them on to another closet golfer when I made the upgrade.

Last 4th of July I played a round in Taos by myself.

Mom was going to go and ride in the cart, but it was hot and she didn’t feel up to it. I played one of my best rounds ever in that dry, high desert air. She would have been proud seeing the ball sail down the middle of the fairways. She would have laughed heartily at the ones that landed in the sagebrush.

If we had known it was our last 4th of July together, she would have insisted I go play golf and would have said, “another walk spoiled”, as she sat on the couch and read with golf lightly playing in the background. Thanks Mom, for feeding my obsession and soul, and always surprising me with unwavering love.

Happy 4th of July everyone, I’m off to the golf course.

Is This Pink Panther for Paula?

The positively pink Jamie Farr Owen's Corning Classic is next on the schedule for the LPGA and Mi Hyun Kim will be defending her title at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, OH. While their home page has not yet added a list of players, the photo opportunities are perfectly matched for a Paula Creamer, pink panther victory. This will certainly be a hot topic amongst the television commentators.

"Dottie, did you see the Pink Panther lurking around behind the tee box at 15? Do you think it's watching Paula or stalking her head cover?"

"I don't know. It's too early to tell, but I bet her caddy is keeping a close eye on the situation."

The tournament starts up on the 9th and it looks like they may be headed for another few days of air horns and rain delays. Hopefully we'll get a little broadcast coverage to pull us out of our Wimbledon grass court overload.

Pressel's Giant Pony

While I never thought I’d find myself discussing fashion on the golf course, has anyone else noticed the size of the polo pony on Morgan Pressel’s shirt? I’m a Ralph Lauren fan, but the shirt she had on yesterday had the pony for the visually impaired. Do you think they were concerned that it would get mixed up with a penguin or a seagull?

I also couldn’t help but notice Se Ri Pak’s nautical number that was designed by her sister, Yoo Ri. She always looks great on the course with her fun and unique clothes as well as her swing and demeanor, but the blue and yellow combo for the final round was a classic. I'm looking for a photo to share and will update when I come about one by some legal means.

It's difficult not to comment on clothes and other gear observations when the sponsors and commentators are working so hard to keep us distracted from golf. I'm betting Nike was hoping for another air horn when Wie withdrew...again...after 9. She seemed okay twirling her club as she walked down the course, I wonder what part of "Just Do It" she doesn't understand?

Kerr Captures Coveted Cup

Today’s finish at the 2007 US Women’s Open was an All American, red, white and blue finish. As Cristie Kerr concentrated before her drive off the 18th tee, you could feel the heat of the south with the cicadas steadily cheering her on with their sweet summer chatter. There haven’t been a lot of American women that have taken home this coveted prize of women’s golf and a look down the leaderboard showed a large group of Koreans who weren’t far behind.

I was secretly cheering for Se Ri Pak. Not that anyone was listening or that it needed to be a secret. I just felt a little guilty with the 4th of July around the corner. Not to mention that Cristie deserved the win.

Kerr started the final round coming off of a 66, 5 under performance in the 3rd. Her confidence was evident as she didn’t seem to over analyze anything and approached her shots as you would with your Wednesday golf buddies. She looked like she was having a great game and intimidated Ochoa into some difficult saves to tie for second.

Check out tomorrow’s Daily Mulligan as I share my thoughts on Pressel’s Polo Pony and Pak’s family designed duds. At least I’m not on national television reminding all the viewers that Kerr used to be a size 16. I’m sure she appreciated that.