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We faltered a little yesterday but still came in tenth out of forty-nine teams which I think is great for a northern team. We were disappointed in the overall result, but we had a wonderful week here. The Sycamore Hills Golf Course, the people who served us, and all of our accommodations were superb.

I did a lot of walking, watching and listening this week. I saw fluid, balanced and consistent swings. I saw a variety of pre-shot routines that never varied. I NEVER heard anyone say “sand trap” – always “bunker.” I saw women helping each other out with raking, with ballmark repair and with yardage. I saw focus and determination and women who wouldn’t quit no matter what. I saw hugs and tears. I heard laughter and good wishes.

We made friends with other states’ players and we made friends with each other. It’s hard to see this week end; it’s gone too fast. I will always remember the joy and privilege of serving as Minnesota’s team captain in this awesome event.

Barb Hanson

It’s fun to be leading a tournament if only for a short time. Our team has played well for the first two rounds, posting a 151 and 153.  Today we’re the leader in the clubhouse – at least for another hour or two. We played this morning, so the afternoon totals haven’t been posted yet. However, we’re hopeful that we’ll still be in the top ten, maybe in the top five. Pretty good for a state that has a limited golf season.

Minnesota is known for its participation in and support of golf. Did you see the crowds at the PGA Championship a couple of weeks ago? That was Minnesota!

Tomorrow we’re going to go out and give it our best shot once again. No matter what happens we will count our blessings that we had the privilege to be involved in a USGA event, playing a game that we love to play. GO MINNESOTA!!

One of the most amazing things I’ve witnessed in the two days I’ve been here in Indiana at the USGA State Teams Championship are the old friendships being rekindled as well as new friendships being forged among women from all over the country.  Many of these women are high-level amateur players who have attended many national tournaments. They’ve been paired with each other, competed against one another, had dinner together and learned to know each other on a personal level. So when they see each other again at such an event as this, it’s like old home week. Even for those who are new to the national scene, it doesn’t take long to become acquainted with other women who share a passion for the game of golf.

This tournament is unique in that it potentially spans several age brackets. The only women excluded from being contestants are collegiate players, so we are seeing a mixture of young, middle-aged and older players.

Golf is a special game in many ways. One of the most special things about it is how it promotes friendship and camaraderie among us.

I am so privileged to be with three of the best amateur women golfers from the state of Minnesota as their captain at the USGA State Team Championship. We’re in Fort Wayne, Indiana at a Jack Nicklaus signature course called Sycamore Hills. It is beyond beautiful and very challenging.

This championship began in 1995 and is held every other year, so this is only the eighth event. Each state sends its three best players to compete against all the other states in three days of stroke play. When this competition was held in Minnesota (at Woodhill CC) in 2001, the Minnesota team won it! Two of the players from that team are here again this year – Claudia Pilot (Austin) and Leigh Klasse (Minneapolis). Our third player is Alison Meyer (Duluth) who just graduated from Ferris State in Michigan after playiong four years of collegiate golf. We have a strong team!

We played our first practice round today, and it was a very scenic challenge. Nicklaus designed an interesting, beautiful and challenging course at Sycamore Hills, and we’re all grateful to have the opportunity to be here.

Today I learned how to analyze a green from Leigh’s caddy, Lynn Anderson. Lynn has been a State Team player herself several times, but right now she’s ineligible because she’s classified as a golf professional. Lynn is here because she loves the game. This morning, Lynn said, “I feel like I’m in heaven. I’m having a Sausage McMuffin and Coke for breakfast, it’s a beautiful day, and we’re on our way to the golf course!”

Tonight we attended the Players’ Dinner put on by the USGA where we met many women from around the country. We laughed and talked and shared stories of today’s round knowing that after tomorrow we will be competing against each other. The really cool thing is  that after we compete we’ll still be friends.

I have been corrected on the details of the Annika story by my good friend and colleague, Debbie Waitkus. Here’s what she said:

“Barb – great newsletter!   Need to correct you on your Annika story as it’s a huge bone of contention with a close friend of mine that was the Solheim Co-Captain for the “other” team (Europeans) when that happened.

“Here’s what went down.  Play was called due to inclement weather. The women all marked their balls and came back the next day.  Upon their return, they replaced their balls and stood around looking at each other for who should go first. Finally, Annika decided to go first. No one stopped her and said that someone else was away. They’d had all night to make that determination.  (This is the source of the bad feelings.)  Yep, Annika holed her chip shot. It was then that the Americans asked her to re-hit.  She did not hit it in the next time.  The Europeans ladies were upset since the Americans could have stepped up and just hit after having had the entire night to figure out who was away or they could have just let her have the shot. In the Europeans’ eyes, it was poor sportsmanship.  According to my friend, it was the turning point which fueled the Europeans to win.  There are such things as golf gods…”

I love match play. It promotes a little different mindset and some unique strategies. You never know what’s going to happen, and that’s what makes it exciting.

In match play, you’re playing against one person to win a hole. It doesn’t matter what your score is as long as it’s lower than the other person’s. So you’re always watching their shots and looking for opportunities to play at least one stroke better.

In match play you can legally “give” putts.

In match play the person whose ball is farthest away from the hole must play first. Do you remember that infamous match when Annika was just off the green and chipped in, and her opponent contended that Annika’s ball was closer than hers? In fact it was, and Annika had to replay the shot. She chipped in again!

In match play you must decide on the outcome of a hole before proceeding to the next.

In match play a penalty is often loss of hole rather than two strokes.

If you currently don’t have the opportunity to compete in a match play format, try setting up a season-long match play tournament at your club. Your golfing buddies will love it.