By downloading this FREE Internet Browser Tool from Ladies on the Tee you will help support the growth of women’s golf throughout the world!
Click on Button to Download Ladies on the Tee Browser Tool
Tags: golf, Golf for Women, internet browser tool, toolbar, Women's Golf
5 Easy Steps to Keep Your Golf Game on Track
For some of you the golf season is already underway for this year. For others, the temps are just starting to warm up. Regardless the key issues are the same and they begin before ever heading out to golf course. So let’s take some time to go over a short checklist of things that will help make the beginning of the season a bit easier and sustain your game throughout the season. That’s my story and I am sticking to it 
- Before you tee it up on the course, you should make sure you have been ‘tuning’ up your body off the course. Does that mean you need to be a work-out fiend? Not really but if that’s your thing, have at it. Some simple stretching exercises to maintain flexibility, some good core work to keep those abs strong and some ‘road’ work to get the legs ready for the hills and dales of your favorite course are the basics to consider. If you don’t belong to a club that’s no excuse as there are countless exercises and programs that fit right into what you have available at home. Take a look at our Golf Fitness department here on Ladies on the Tee to get some suggestions.
- Now onto your equipment…let’s start with the grips on your clubs. Chances are you don’t clean them regularly after each round so a safe bet would be that they have lost their tackiness. What does that mean? Only that the club is more likely to slip in your hands during your swing OR it may require you to clamp down with the proverbial death grip to hang onto it. That NEVER helps a golf swing. Invest a few bucks in some new grips unless you are thinking about investing in a new set of clubs (a much more expensive option, don’t you know!)
- The equipment check doesn’t stop there. Let’s focus on your golf shoes, shall we? If they are well worn chances are the support is shot. Proper fitting shoes with good support helps prevent leg fatigue. Believe it or not your legs are vital to your game. Give them some help by taking care of your feet with some good shoes.
- Now it’s time to work out the ‘bugs’ in your swing (or maybe your confidence). I highly recommend spending some quality time with your favorite LPGA or PGA certified professional and book a lesson or two. Sometimes it’s just a refresher course to get the cobwebs out and get back to basics. Other times it might be something very specific you want or need to work on. Nevertheless, to have some well-trained eyes providing feedback is priceless.
- Heading to the range is always a good idea to get things working together and to get warmed up before your tee time. If a range isn’t an option please consider doing some pre-round stretching to get your muscles loose and warmed up. Pulling a muscle on the first swing of the day is never a pleasant experience.
So if you take care of your body, your clubs, your shoes and your warm-up routine, they will take care of you allowing you to get the full enjoyment out of the game and play much longer overall.
The temps are rising where I am, the sun is finally starting to shine and I am ready to get started. What was point #1 again??? Oh yeah, tuning up the body…this may take some time……see you on the links!
Thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee at www.sherrytabb.com . Feel free to leave your comments below.
Tags: golf exercises, golf grips, golf tips, golf training
Sorry for the delay in finishing the story of my first time out for the 2010 golf season. There are times that I really think computers are the bane of my existence. Definitely a ‘love-hate’ relationship! OK…time to move on.
As I was saying in my previous blurb here on Ladies on the Tee, I had some highs and lows to my first round of the 2010 golf season. The purest shots I hit were from my Sweet Spot Hybrid #4. 
Did you ever have a shot where you know you kissed it ‘just’ right?? The feeling is immeasurable and in my case, mostly unrepeatable. I felt extremely lucky in that I was blessed with more than one in that round and they all came with the same club. Now, I did hit a few great feeling drives but with the ball teed up I don’t count that as a remarkable shot. These were shots from the rough (hello, that’s where I was most of the round:-)) Not only did I get the attention of my playing partners with the bright black and pink graphics on this Sweet Spot Hybrid but the quality of those shots left them wondering what this strange looking club was all about. For some reason I could not get the guys to give it a go. Hmmm! What about ‘real men wear pink’? Doesn’t that translate to ‘real men play pink’???
I digress…what I really want to tell you about is a very innovative towel that I was given to test out. Sounds like an oxymoron doesn’t it? Innovative towel?? The towel in use this round is from Bright Spot Solutions and they call it the Spotless Swing Premium Multi-Use Golf Towel.
This towel is pretty cool as it has a textured fabric inside that is very useful in cleaning the grooves of your clubs. I am a fanatic for wiping off the face of my clubs after every shot so this little ‘extra’ had my name all over it. The rest of the inside area helps keep or trap the mud, grass etc from the club and keep it on the inside area. That leaves the outside area clean enough to wipe your hands, your grips or even your face (not something I tested as I was NOT sweating on this brisk, windy day).
Overall, this is a pretty ingenious little adaptation for one of the most useful tools in your bag. It looks like this will replace the stained and awful looking ’white’ towels I traditionally carry with me. Adding a little more style to my bag is certainly not a bad thing. The Spotless Swing comes in red and black. I was given a red one for my test even though personally I like the looks of the black one better. I give this ‘gadget’ a thumbs up for simplicity and overall usefulness. They are not paying me to say good things even though I was provided the test sample. I really like the towel! Now if it would just help me lower my score next time out………….
Thanks for visiting with us at Ladies on the Tee golf blog at www.sherrytabb.com. If you have any comments about this article, just leave them below.
Tags: golf, golf accessories, golf bag, golf clubs, golf equipment, golf tools
Cold Weather, Aching Body, New Tools
The PGA Show has come and gone but my trek south is still in its early stages. After seeing all of the latest and greatest tools and gadgets I was more than psyched to get out on the links and play. Of course, I literally had to dust the cobwebs off my golf clubs that had been stored in the basement for winter in Ohio before I packed them in the car for the journey to the Sunshine State.
My vision was to tee off on a sunny, warm and beautiful late January day in SW Florida. So much for that dream. My friend and business partner, Lee, set us up for a morning tee time at his club, Heron Creek. What he didn’t take care of was the weather, not that he didn’t try. Instead of the cool and cloudy morning changing over to a warm and sunny early afternoon, the clouds never receded and the winds picked up as the day progressed. Is there such a thing as ‘wind chill’ in Florida?? My body does NOT like the cold!
The weather aside, I was there to try to remember a few of things that helped me finish 2009 with pleasant memories and to test out a new putter by hammY, a new golf towel (Spotless Swing) and my mettle. Let me start with the easy stuff, the new tools.
I was provided a putter by hammY Golf, the one that Natalie Gulbis used to play. The premise behind this 
putter is to use a split hand grip and an open stance giving you more stability, a better view or line on the putt and more control. Think ‘slap shot’ in hockey. On the practice green I was amazed at the number of ‘longer than average’ putts I sank. This putter is much heavier than what I am used to using but that was not a problem. In fact, it added to the overall ‘feel’ of the putter.
My goal was to use the hammY for the first nine holes then switch to another putter for comparison. I was pleasantly surprised with the results in playing conditions. It’s important to state that I do not have a very good short game so most of my putts are lengthy –especially on the first trip out for the season. I felt a little awkward at first using an open stance but the split grip felt natural. The longer putts were rolling true and relatively close to the hole. I only had one 3-putt the entire round.
On the back nine I used my old putter for a few holes but before the end of the round I was reaching back for the hammY. In spite of the cold conditions, a sore back, tired legs, feet screaming at me and …you get the picture, totally unconditioned…I finished strong making par on the last 2 holes. Nothing like taking 16 holes to ‘warm up’, right??
Whether the hammY putter is right for you, that I can’t say. I liked it well enough to keep it in my bag for my next round.
That’s enough for now. Stay tuned as I will be back to tell you my thoughts on the Spotless Swing golf towel. Very Interesting…………….
Thanks for stopping by Ladies on the Tee at www.sherrytabb.com. I am looking forward to more golf very soon and then back to the harsh reality of winter in Ohio. That pesky groundhog didn’t help matters with a longer winter prediction. The hammY putter and Spotless Swing towel were provided free of charge for test purposes but with complete freedom to review the products based on my personal opinion. I am not affiliated with either company.
Tags: alignment, golf, golf equipment, golf score, weather
Hello 2010!
After a few weeks of the offseason, it feels good to be back to golf again! I’ve made the move from Ohio to Orlando, FL and the green grass in January is a beautiful site. I’ve got a busy schedule ahead of me this winter preparing like a mad woman to go for my LPGA card this year. It’s not going to be easy. Not only will it takes hours of practice, but physical strength, mental game, course strategy, and learning how to deal with life in general as a professional golfer. So keep your head down and don’t cry over spilled milk!!!
A very wise man once told me (my dad), “Once you stop searching and learning, your career is over.” Although I had a pretty solid season last year, I made so many mistakes! Looking back, some of them seem so obvious too…seriously WHAT was I thinking? Well, this is the time to reflect and plan how to change things this time around.
For example, I started off the season with a BANG last year working out 3-4 times per week. Hi-YA! Take that, competition! Seriously though… by the third tournament I was lucky to work 1-2 times per week. Everybody wave goodbye to those six pack abs! Bye bye! But it’s a new year, and I have two solutions.
I need to be in better shape to start the season, so hitting the gym will be like second nature. I’ve done the p90x workout program this winter, and feel fabulous! It’s a tough program where you work out six days per week for 90 days. I’ve already lost 6% bodyfat…ooOoOOo hello abs, I’ve missed you…
Also, I was tired a lot last season because
Tags: game of golf, golf, Golf for Women, golf professionals, golf training, golf workouts
A lot has been said about the state of the things within the LPGA and what needs to be done to build the strength and secure the survival for this prestigious woman’s sport. There are a lot of factors in play that could make 2010 ‘the year that made the difference’.
First, we have an entirely new leadership style at the helm of the LPGA with the new Commissioner, Michael Whan. He asserts a ‘listen, learn and then speak’ style of leading. That in its own right is a complete 360 from the Bivens era of ‘my way or the highway’ style that alienated almost everyone – most importantly the sponsors. If Whan does what he says he will do the LPGA will be in a much better staid with players, tournament owners, sponsors and fans.
Michelle Wie will most certainly play a role in the success of the tour, especially here on US soil. Having secured her first win, all eyes will be on her to repeat…over and over. We need the American players
to get to the top of the leaderboard and do it consistently! We need Paula Creamer to get healthy and play to
Amanda Blumenhurst
herpotential. The new face on the scene is Q-School winner, Amada Blumenhurst. If she is able to parlay her collegiate prowess onto the pro scene we have the potential for a strong rivalry at the top. That is sorely missing for the US Players in specific and the Tour in general.
The strength of this year’s schedule has been the subject of much fodder in the media. The fact that things were looking much worse when Bivens was still at the helm is a point missed by most. Is the schedule as strong as it needs to be? Certainly not! But with a ‘glass half-full’ perspective, it is amazing what was done behind the scenes to regroup and rebuild. The job is no where near completed but it appears the right people are ‘on the job’ now!
Will Tiger’s absence help the LPGA? It most assuredly won’t hurt. There are many golf fans that only watch the PGA, including myself, to watch Tiger and to witness his amazing ability to pull-off shots most players don’t even think about. Does that mean those fans will flock to the LPGA? Probably not in droves but I suspect there will be quite a few that will.
Will the sponsorship dollars lost to Tiger flow over to the LPGA? Not necessarily but those are dollars that are open to bid at the moment. Only time will tell how all of this shakes out but the one thing for certain is that we, as fans of women’s golf, have to make sure we are supporting the women’s game in every manner possible.
If the game is to grow, the fan base has to grow AND get involved. Sponsors take notice of the availability of consumer dollars so it all starts with the fans. The product is there and it is getting stronger with players from all corners of the world. Spread the word! 2010 will be a very interesting year!
Thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee golf blog at www.sherrytabb.com. Your comments are welcome and encouraged.
Tags: game of golf, golf, LPGA, PGA, Women's Golf, women's sports
Here we are rapidly approaching 2010. It is time to kiss 2009 goodbye and hope for a much better year in 2010. The golf world certainly saw it’s fair share of UGLY, GOOD and NOT QUITE SURE events this year.
Here a few of this year’s Lowlights:
- The economy strangling sponsor and fan dollars
- Bivens announcing new relationship with Korean cable company JGolf AT the SBS Open in Hawaii. SBS is a competitor of JGolf in Korea. Bonehead move!
- The loss of one after another sponsor for the LPGA tour – some of them long term relationships
- Purse sizes contracting if not lost forever
- A much smaller tour schedule for 2010
- Carolyn Bivens wreaking havoc with relationships on and off the course
- Paula Creamer’s struggles with illness and injury = no wins in 2009
- Tiger Woods falling from grace in a BIG way
- President Obama playing golf with the boys perpetuating the grass ceiling
- Annika MIA on tour
Some Highlights:
- The players ouster of Carolyn Bivens as LPGA Commissioner
- Marty Evans, Zayra Calderon and company reinstating some lost good-will with sponsors
- Securing 23-25 events for the LPGA in 2010 with more potential sponsors in 2011
- USA winning the Solheim Cup in Sugar Grove, IL
- Michelle Wie coming of age at the Solheim Cup
- Michelle Wie winning her first LPGA event
- Kristy McPherson making her move to to the top level on the LPGA
- Lorena Ochoa salvaging her year with the Player of the Year award – Again!
- JiYai Shin winning Rookie of the Year honors – awesome play in 2009!
- Annika giving birth to a future Hall of Famer – Ava Madelyn
- Following Carling Coffing all season on the Duramed Tour
- The amazing fans of Ladies on the Tee Golf Blog- THANK YOU!!
On the Bubble:
- Hiring Michael Whan as the new LPGA Commissioner – time will tell but we wish him well!
- President Obama seeing the light and inviting chief domestic policy advisor, Melody Barnes to join his foursome. Did he really want her to play in his group or was it just a photo-op?
- Elin Nordregen’s golf swing
There was a lot happening in 2009 that wasn’t mentioned above. Please weigh in with your highlights, lowlights and on the bubble comments. A very special Happy New Year to each and every one of you. You made 2009 a tremendous year for me and the rest of the fans of women’s golf. Please stay tuned for an exciting new launch in early 2010. May 2010 be the best, happiest, healthiest and prosperous year it can be for all. Bring it on, baby!!
Thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee at www.sherrytabb.com. Don’t forget to leave your comments below.
Tags: game of golf, golf, golf events, golf results, Women's Golf
As we get close to the start of Michael Whan’s tenure at the helm of the LPGA, we have to hope that he is truly the ‘chosen one’. So far we have been privy to his business background and achievements. But who is he, really?
He has offered up a video in a ‘fireside chat’ atmosphere sharing a more personal look into who he is as a person and what he holds dear as he addresses the membership of the LPGA. His manner is soft-spoken and charming. Makes you want to pick up the phone and call him. (I would but I don’t have his personal phone number.) If as a listener to this video you feel all warm and fuzzy, then that is a success on its own. His predecessor was anything but approachable.
For all the women that earn their livelihoods on tour, for all the fans that support this beleaguered business, for all the sponsors that believe in the LPGA and for those that should, please take the time to listen to Michael Whan on this video and rekindle your much-needed support.
Of course, none of us are naive enough to think that a few minutes on a video will cure all ills. Whan’s success will be determined by his actions and his ability to listen, learn and then act to the absolute best of his ability. This author wishes him success beyond measure. Here is to 2010 and beyond! May the ‘force’ be with him.
Thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee at www.sherrytabb.com. What do you think about Mr. Whan and the LPGA’s future? Please leave your comments below.
Tags: 2010 LPGA Season, Carolyn Bivens, golf leadership, LPGA Commissioner
|
Tags: golf tournaments, golf venues, Women's Golf, women's golf tour
Promote Your Golf Health
Recently I contacted Lynda Lippin, a certified Pilates Teacher Trainer, Personal Trainer and Reiki Master, after seeing a post from her on Facebook to a golfer friend of mine discussing a couple of Pilates programs that were being used successfully by golfers. I asked her if I could get her neck pain and lower back pain Pilates programs for my personal use and as a basis for a review for this blog.
Lynda graciously agreed to send me a ‘review’ program with no strings attached other than to give it a go and write about my experience, pro or con. I have a friend locally that conducts Pilates training programs but I have not taken advantage of his classes due to the fact that he is clear across town…hmmm, suggests a motivation problem on my end perhaps?? Actually it was a lack of understanding of the benefits Pilates provides.
Lynda delivered her programs to me quickly via email (how convenient is that?) and I got started immediately, anxious to see if I could get relief from the constant pain I have in my neck and shoulders and intermittent lower back pain. Perhaps I was a little too eager because I tried to do both programs (neck and lower back) one right after the other. OK. That was like taking one step forward and two steps back for me. I was ‘undoing’ what I was helping doing it like this. What I learned (from a consultation with Lynda) is that the better way for me was to focus on one program daily for a couple of weeks and get consistent relief THEN add the next one. What a difference that made!
The relief I have felt with my neck and shoulder stiffness, lack of mobility and pain is hard to measure in words. Since this is my biggest source of discomfort I have concentrated more on this area of my body than the lower back. It is amazing how the simple movements that Lynda incorporates in her programs and the short duration of the exercises (approximately 30 minutes) can deliver such profound relief and even work up a sweat. I found the physical benefits transferred to my golf game as I was able to swing more smoothly and with some additional rotation. My best rounds were towards the end of the season in large part, I feel, due to the Pilates programs I was using.
Rather than try myself to explain the reasoning behind this I asked Lynda to provide some information on what she does and why it works so well especially for golfers. Below is what she provided but I am also adding a video I found on her site that I think will help explain what Pilates is all about and its background. Enjoy!
“Golf is a high spine impact activity that puts great stress on the spine, hips, and shoulders. Any imbalance in the muscular usage of the torso can cause pain and injury to a golfer, and can also detrimentally affect one’s game. Pilates helps to Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: aches and pains, golf aches, golf fitness, golf pain, good health, workout
The Absurdity of Golf Etiquette
Who Took the Common Out of Common Sense?
Why is it that in a sport dominated by a code of ethics, personal integrity and honesty we have to suffer the morons that can’t or choose to not use some measure of common sense while on the golf course? There are ‘Rules of Golf Etiquette’ for goodness sakes that when read make you go, Duh!!
Now don’t get me wrong. I totally believe in golf etiquette as I do in treating my fellow human beings with common courtesy but I don’t carry a book around that spells out what those common courtesies should be. I know there are plenty of self-absorbed individuals on this planet that prove there is nothing common about common sense these days. Does that make it OK to not stop and think for a moment how your actions may be affecting those around you? I don’t think so.
Those ‘golfers’ that don’t think twice about playing from a set of tees that are obviously meant for players better than them and barely hit their tee shots past the forward tees should be banned for life or at least until their brains begin to function again. IF the course is relatively open and you are not holding anyone up, go for it. Play from the tips if you can afford to lose that many golf balls.
And then we have the “ball seekers” who seem to be on a mission to find every lost golf ball on the course from the past decade! No matter that they have stacked up 4-5 groups behind them as they seek out their precious treasure. It is after all, all about THEM! For gosh sakes go under the cover of darkness with a flashlight in hand if you can’t afford to buy golf balls. Now that would be a real adventure.
Let’s also single out the proverbial ‘snail’s pace’ golfers who have nothing other to do that day but be on the golf course…for as long as possible. Does it make you feel empowered when you look back and realize half the city is being held up by your group? Do you also drive your cars 30mph below the speed limit just because you can? Come on folks, let’s realize that unless the golf course is all yours you need to learn to share. Playing well with others is a GOOD thing.
This diatribe could go on forever as I have barely scratched the surface of all the idiotic things that take place on the golf course and drive a lot of us crazy. Ignorance is NOT an excuse. If you suffer from the misconception that this is your world and the rest of us are uninvited guests, I would simply ask that you build your own course and only play there. Otherwise, you need to ‘get in the game’ and figure out how to act properly so that everyone enjoys the game.
Thanks for allowing me to vent here at Ladies on the Tee at www.sherrytabb.com. I feel better now. Can’t wait until I get back on the course..I think. Let me know if you think I am being too harsh or if I am ‘spot on’.
Tags: etiquette, golf, golf course, playing golf, rules of golf