November 10th, 2009 by Barb Hanson
Women In the Golf Industry (WIGI) is an unique organization of women whose careers are within the golf industry. This group seeks to support and encourage women within an industry that is heavily male-dominated.
The goals of WIGI are:
- To provide networking within the golf industry.
- To encourage a woman’s voice in the golf industry.
- To make members aware of new opportunities in golf.
- To give support to other women in golf.
- To create workshops, seminars, and meetings, as deemed sensible, that will assist women in their professional lives.
- To enjoy the game.
If you are working within the golf industry, you’re not alone. Please join us! The annual dues are only $50. The benefits are many, one of which is free admission to the PGA Expo in Orlando, FL.
Go to www.wigi.info for more information and an online application.
Posted in Business Golf, Women's Golf Topics | Add a Comment »
November 3rd, 2009 by Barb Hanson
I’ve been rereading “Golf is Not a Game of Perfect” by Dr. Bob Rotella – a must-read for every golfer. He says so many interesting things, but his analysis of slow play jumped out at me:
“Slow play may be caused by three types of golfers. People who aren’t ready to play when it’s their turn because they’re too busy chatting, or watching their friends hit, are slow. Indecisive players, second-guessing their club selection, are slow. Players who give themselves swing lessons as they address the ball are slow.”
Be sure you’re not one of these players. In my opinion, there is nothing more important in the game of golf than keeping a good pace of play.
Posted in Etiquette, Learning to Play | Add a Comment »
October 23rd, 2009 by Barb Hanson
Look ahead, not behind. This phrase applies to more than one area of golf.
First of all it’s very important in maintaining a good pace of play. The location of the group behind you is not important. The location of the group ahead of you is. You should be within a shot or two of the group ahead or YOU are playing too slowly.
Secondly, you can’t do anything about the shot you just made. The only shot that’s important is the shot you are about to make. Put the best possible swing on each shot and after that, what happens happens. Move on and look ahead. As a friend of mine told me, “Pick up your bag and walk to your ball.” That’s all you can do.
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September 29th, 2009 by Barb Hanson
You MUST post your score if you’ve completed 7 out of 9 holes or 14 out of 18 holes. How? You add your handicap strokes to the pars of the holes you did not complete to get your score. For example, let’s say you completed 15 holes before it began to rain and your handicap is 18 (one stroke per hole). You add one stroke to the pars of 16, 17, and 18 and then add those scores to what you got on the first 15 holes.
If you play in a tournament of any kind, your score should be posted with a “T” or “tournament” indication. These scores are given a little extra weight in figuring your handicap.
You can even post your score in a fourball event where the best score of two players is taken on each hole and you may not have to finish out a hole or two. You simply put down the score you most likely would have had if you had completed the hole.
It’s important to post every score you shoot. That’s how you get an honest, accurate handicap.
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September 20th, 2009 by Barb Hanson
Barb Hanson
I happen to be traveling right now, and I’m stopping at golf courses along the way just to take a look at their facilities, scorecards and pro shops. My intent is to get a feel for their women-friendliness. Granted, this is a very cursory judgment, but there are a few clues:
- Am I greeted by the staff as a golfer?
- Are there at least two sets of tees sloped and rated for women?
- Are the holes handicapped for women?
- Are there similar locker room facilities for both genders?
- Is the Pro Shop equipped with merchandise for both genders?
I visited a club today that was very imporessive in all of these categories. I was so anxious to play! Better yet, it was a walking course. Unfortunately, my trip was not designed as a golf trip, but I’d love to return and play some of the courses I’ve visited.
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September 20th, 2009 by Barb Hanson
Two of my friends had similar experiences with moving their ball accidentally. Being honest competitors and wanting to do the right thing, they accepted penalty strokes graciously. But should they have done so?
In the first case, Ann was getting ready to address her ball when her putter nicked the ball causing it to jiggle. She told her fellow competitors about it and added a penalty stroke to her score. However, when I questioned her about it, she said the ball didn’t actually move from its position; it simply wiggled and returned to its original spot.
The second scenario occurred in the fairway when Nancy unintentionally moved her ball about three feet with her club. She, too, added a penalty stroke to her score.
What’s wrong with these two pictures?
They both pertain to Rule 18 which says: “When a ball is in play, if equipment of the player … causes the ball to move, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke. If the ball is moved, it must be replaced…”
In Scenario #1, the Decisions Book answers this very clearly in Decision 18/2:
“Q: In addressing the ball, a player accidentally causes the ball to oscillate, but it returns to its original position. Has the ball moved?
“A: No.”
So Ann did nothing wrong and she should not have taken a penalty stroke.
In Scenario #2, clearly Nancy moved her ball with her equipment, so her penalty was deserved. However, she should have replaced the ball before continuing play.
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September 9th, 2009 by Barb Hanson
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.
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September 2nd, 2009 by Barb Hanson
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!!
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September 1st, 2009 by Barb Hanson
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.
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August 31st, 2009 by Barb Hanson
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.
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