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....

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.

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