March 2011 Archives

I know this column is supposed to be about golf but how can I not be excited for my alma mater and their two awesome basketball teams.  Both made it to the final four in the NCAAs for those who live under a rock somewhere.  And a special congratulation goes to Maya Moore for hitting that 3000 mark.

So how do I get this column to be about golf.  Well, just watch the fantastic teamwork displayed by the UConn teams, their unselfishness with the ball, passing to other players so they can make the shot.  Team spirit is an integral part of their ability to win these games.

Often I have watched the Ryder Cup and while the USA team played as a team, there wasn't always that feel that they were a team like the European squad.  American golfers most often play the game for themselves and not as part of a team so that mentality just didn't shine through on the USA squad.

I've played in several competitions that have been team events and there's such a great feeling when you can win a point for your team and your teammates.  I play a lot of golf with the SNEWGA organization and there are five great team oriented tournaments that come to mind.

The Memorial Tournament pits teams from member clubs against teams from other clubs.  Each team is comprised of an A-B-C and-D player so players of all abilities get to enjoy this format playing together.  Some holes require using 3 scores so everyone needs to bring their game for the team.  Some clubs don't have a D player and they are allowed to borrow a D player from another club, now that's true sportsmanship.

Then there is Team Day where teams send four players who play in foursomes with players from other courses who are generally within their handicap range.  You have no idea how well your team did until you all come in and post your scores.  You are on edge wondering if you let your team down.

Pro Lady is another great event where three club members get to play with a pro and compete against a field of like players from other clubs.  You always hope your pro will have one of the low scores on the hole but if the pro ends up with a bad score you better hope two of your teammates have a respectable score if you want to come in the money.

The Association Matches pit members of SNEWGA against members of CWGA in head to head matches.  The team that scores the most points wins bragging rights for the year.  This kind of reminds me of the old UConn vs Tennessee matches.

But I have to say my favorite team event has to be SNEWGA's Macmillan Cup, held at the end of the season.  This two day event is played in Ryder Cup format with teams from the Northeast clubs battling teams from the Southwest.  It's been played at a variety of clubs near Foxwoods but has found a home at Elmridge Country Club.  Anyone who comes up and watches these matches and the cameraderie at the end of each days play will truly understand what team play is all about.  And while the rivalry is strong, the sportsmanship among all the players is even stronger.

March madness has hit Connecticut hard and all  I'm thinking about now is UConn winning both titles.  Remember that spirit if you get a chance to play in any team events this year.

What a tease we had a week ago when the temps hit above 70.  Then a scare of more snow that fortunately dropped minimal amounts of snow.  Here in Milford that snow was gone by the next morning but with it came a severe drop in temps from that 70 down to 40s.  Brrrrr.

The forecast for this week has temps back in the 50s but still a bit too cold for me to get out there and swing the clubs.  I'm anxiously awaiting my opportunity to get that first round of the season in..

Many courses have opened up but check to see if they are playing temp greens or not allowing carts out.  With the ground still not recovered from this past winter, many courses are opting to open with walking only restrictions and if you're not in shape you may want to try playing only nine holes.

Chances are that my first round will be at the SNEWGA spring meeting at Stanley Golf Club on April 9th.  I've mentioned this meeting in a previous column but want to remind female golfers that this is a wonderful organization that welcomes golfers of all handicap ranges.  The only requirement is that you be a member of one of SNEWGA's member clubs.  There are lots of golf tournaments for you to participate in from club invitationals, SNEWGA Sundays and of course Major Tournaments.  Check out SNEWGA.org for more information about this statewide organization, the tournaments and their upcomng spring meeting where you can meet other golfers.  It's a great way to find more golfing partners and improve your game.  Maybe I'll meet you at the SNEWGA meeting.

Until then, I guess I'm just going to have to continue to watch golf on TV and lust after those plush green fairways and pristine greens. 

And for those ladies who belong to private clubs make sure to inquire at your club about membership in CWGA.  This is another great organization but is limited to private club membership and has certain handicap restrictions.  SNEWGA and CWGA also have some inter-organization competitions which afford you the luxury of seeing some of the best private clubs in the state without having to belong to a private club.

So what are you waiting for?  Come join us for some great golf and lasting friendships.

Congratulations to Annika Sorenstam on the birth of her little boy William Nicholas McGee.  Annika went into labor earlier today (Monday 3/21), at only 27 weeks, and gave birth at 6:33 p.m.

Courses are slowly opening up after this long hard winter of massive amounts of snow and more recently rains.

Typically in these first few weeks of opening, the courses tend to be very wet and muddy.  Balls plug, so make sure to take your junk balls with you instead of those new balls.  Chances are you might lose a few in the middle of fairways when they disappear into the soft earth.

Personally, I think courses need to relax their dress code during the month of March.  I don't mind getting my jeans and old golf shoes muddy but I don't want to wear typical golf attire and have it ruined by mud stains.  Am I wrong in thinking this way?  What does it hurt the course to allow you to wear jeans during the first few weeks?

Remember that courses don't want their precious turf damaged by heavy carts while the ground is soft, so chances are that unless they have cart path only options, you may have to plan on walking in that soggy ground for your round.  Also if you do walk, take a couple extra towels to wipe down your clubs and to put on the ground if you need to protect your bag.

If you're not used to walking the course, try lightening your load in your bag.  While you may need more balls, you might opt to use fewer clubs.  Go back to that beginner set mentality - take every other club out of the bag and cut the weight down by half.  In between clubs on a shot, take the longer club and choke down.  This may also help you to learn how to play different shots with your clubs.  Some of my best rounds have been in that league favorite tournament - three clubs and a putter. 

Above all, if you're one of the lucky ones to get out there early, don't worry about score - just go play and have fun.

I want to congratulate my good friend Lisa D. Mickey on winning the Golf Writers Association of America's top award for Internet Features for her compelling story of Kristen Ingram's life that started out in an orphanage in Uzbekistan to her becoming a bright star on the LPGA Futures Tour.

Lisa has the great gift of storytelling and her peers at GWAA recognize her accomplishments by honoring her with this award, her third in the last five years.  Lisa will receive her award on Master's Wednesday in Augusta this year at the annual Golf Writer's dinner.  I had the pleasure of attending the dinner last year to receive an award for my work in the special projects category while at Golf Digest, but I can honestly say I'm not even close to the talent displayed by Lisa.

I've known Lisa now for close to 15 years.  Prior to joining the staff at Golf World, Golf Digest's sister publication, as an Associate Editor covering the LPGA tour, Lisa was an editor and writer for Golf For Women.  At Golf World she also covered the women's amateur circuit, college golf and if that wasn't enough, Lisa also served as Equipment Editor. 

Golf World is a weekly publication and the demands and deadlines are unbelievable.  You have to be truly dedicated to your work to give up your weekends and work late into the night on Sunday to get the story in for the Monday deadlines.  But that was what Lisa was all about - hard work.

When Golf Digest Publications purchased Golf For Women, Lisa moved over to once again bring her editing and writing skills to that magazine as Senior Editor and Equipment Editor.  Lisa had the connections with the players on the tours and it was evident in their trust in her to tell a story truthfully and accurately.  It's that access that allows her to find such interesting stories, stories that pull at the heart.

Lisa's captivating coverage of the women's tours brought her to the attention of the Duramed Futures Tour owner Zayra Calderon.  In 2007 The Duramed Futures Tour was acquired by the LPGA Tour.  Lisa serves as Senior Writer of New Media & Communications Manager for the LPGA Futures Tour.  It is here where her true talents have had the ability to shine and be fully appreciated as noted by her many writing awards.

So once again, congratulations to Lisa for her exceptional writing.  If you haven't read her recent award winning piece, go to the link listed below and you will understand why there is no doubt she is deserving of this award.  I'm sure it won't be the last time she is recognized by her fellow writers and editors.  I'm only sad that I won't be at the dinner this year to congratulate her in person.  Way to go Mickeysan!

Follow Lisa and her tour coverage on LPGAFuturesTour.com and check out the News section for Tour Features and Mickey's Blogs.

Link - http://www.lpgafuturestour.com/NewsRoom.asp?page=Features/FS112210.ssi

I can see the grass in my yard and the daffodils are popping through the ground and sprouting their yellow heads.  Can golf season be far away?

I have a feeling that the shoreline courses will beat our inland neighbors in opening this spring.  While I can see all of my yard here in Milford, except for where those 4 and 5 ft. piles of snow were, when I was in Shelton the other day there was still a lot of snow on the ground.

The days are brighter and seem longer.  I'm officially getting the itch to play.  So which course will be the first to open - keep checking CTGolfer for a list of courses that have started their golf season.  May the games begin.