Golf has been all about Hi-Tech for many years.  Low compression, soft feel, golf balls that explode off of a 460cc, high MOI, WMD with light weight, composite graphite shaft that produces more swing speed, a higher launch angle and less spin for extra carry and distance.  Yadda, Yadda, Yadda.  The newest and hottest technology, by far, is Twitter and it doesn’t even cost a dime, no $499.99 price tag.  Even the worst weekend hacker can chat up Hank Haney, Paul Azinger even Rory McIlroy on your home computer or smart phone.

With the explosion of the social media phenomena the newest hi-tech advancement for golf freaks is Twitter.  It seems that Twitter connects nearly everyone in the golf world.  In fact Ian Poulter and Stewart Cink are in a tight race for the most followers or Tweeps.  Poulter has 1,210,038 but Stewie Cink is currently the leader in the clubhouse, however, with 1,210,205 followers.  That’s right I didn’t stutter, they have over 1 million followers, each.  And you thought you were the only crazy golf nut out there.

Twitter offers anything from swing tip advice from Hank Haney to up to the minute news flashes from Tiger Woods.  That’s right, ”The” Tiger Woods.  He announces everything via his website and twitter.  You can get the same up to the second news that ESPN, the Golf Channel, or other sports news media receive about tournament scoring, updates or even Eldrick, himself. Follow the LPGA, PGA, Ladies and Mens European Tour, or Golf Channel announcers such as, Brandel Chamblee, Frank Nobilo, and Rich Lerner for golf news and analysis.  It’s inter-active, you can even chat them up, in 140 characters or less.

If you like to talk about golf 24/7/365 and are looking for others to chat with, Twitter is for you.  There is always someone on twitter that will chat, argue, or discuss any golf topic that meets your fancy.  Enhance your viewing pleasure by twittering with other golf fanatics while watching golf on TV.  Make fun of the announcers, share the joy of an amazing golf shot just pulled off by one of the professionals, or ruminate over the 13 shots that John Daly just took on the par 4.

If you decide to join golf’s newest hi-tech phenomenon, jump on Twitter, follow me, and give me a shout out @tolohgolfr.  I’ll be there.  I’m hooked.

A special thanks to Fred Altvater for this great article and thank you for visiting Ladies on the Tee at www.sherrytabb.com. Feel free to follow us on Twitter @ladiesonthetee.

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Who has enough media coverage these days??? Why would you turn down the opportunity to reach out to more fans and potentially more sponsors?? That was exactly what Tournament Director, Abby Pearson did this past week at the Teva Championship held in Mason, OH at The Golf Center at Kings Island.

The Teva Championship in particular has struggled in the past two years with getting the word out to the community that these great golfers were coming to town. How can additional media resources be refused when this is such a vital part of building the event for everyone’s benefit??? In my opinion, since Game Day Communications, a local marketing firm, was fired by this Tournament Director two years ago this event has lost a lot of its hometown presence, connections and media coverage.

Having said that… for this event organizer to state that ‘her media needs were met’ was most baffling and leads me to question the real reasoning behind her statement. It seems to come down to playing favorites for her pro picks in the two Pro-Ams regardless of tour protocol or maybe better said…penalizing players she doesn’t particularly like.

This is what I mean….This year I requested to play again with a golfer that I had been randomly paired with over the previous two years. This Tour player was not on the list of pros selected by this Tournament Director to play in either of this year’s Pro-Ams even though requests to play with her had been made. As I understand it, the selection of pros is based on the current player standings OR if a request is made by an amateur to be paired with a specific golfer then that golfer is included in the Pro-Am roster. To further explain… another amateur that played in our foursome last year also wanted to be grouped with us again. I was not the only one to request her. So why would this pro not be invited to play? Was I then refused a courtesy Pro-Am spot and media privileges because of my request for this player??? Seems rather coincidental if you ask me.

From my point of view there are some serious issues with the way things unfolded that go far beyond how this impacted me professionally or personally. Without a doubt I understand that it is within the Tournament Director’s rights to not extend playing privileges to media personnel for the Pro-Am slots but to refuse additional media coverage…that’s insane!

The way this was handled was extremely unprofessional given that my conversation with Pearson regarding my media services and Pro-Am spot began months prior to the event dates and were seemingly approved. However, just days before the event date I was notified by email that not only was I not invited to play in one of the Pro-Ams but she stated that she didn’t need any more media coverage. More importantly though… to deny a tour player the right to play and in this rare case, to not receive Pro-Am gifts for playing is beyond her scope given the amateur requests that were made for this player. There appears to have been some personal issues at play here…..totally unacceptable at this level…in my opinion!

During the course of this year’s event, some volunteers even reflected on the loss of key personnel who were no longer in place because of this Tournament Director’s ‘control’ issues. I can only hope that with a potential new sponsor will come a new Tournament Director, not as much for me but for the sake of the women struggling to make it to the LPGA and who need all of the events and fan support that can be mustered to help secure present and future sponsors. This kind of behavior does nothing to enhance the quality of a tour event.

When the common denominator in all that transpired at this event points to one person as being the responsible party for the loss of good quality volunteers and support services, it’s time for a change! As a resident of this area, I want THIS tour stop to be the best on the schedule.

For years the Greater Cincinnati area played host to the LPGA Tour at this very same course… The Golf Center at Kings Island. Stand out players like Nancy Lopez, Pat Bradley, Jan Stephenson, Sally Little and many, many more came annually to Mason, OH to the sheer delight of golf fans throughout the region and beyond. Then we had the disappointing years when the LPGA moved east for this event. The closest the LPGA came to ‘coming home’ to us was when they set up shop at the Country Club of the North in the Dayton area.

When it was announced that the LPGA Futures Tour was interested in adding our area to their schedule four years ago and eventually found themselves back at Kings Island, it seems we have come full-circle. The goal now has to be to keep this great event here, to find a new sponsor and most importantly, hire a competent tournament director that doesn’t scare away quality volunteers, media and support services to make it the best it can be!! ….….in my opinion.

Thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee at www.sherrytabb.com. Comments are welcome and appreciated!!

 

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Bear with me if you will and let me go back in time a bit before I get to the more recent events.  Many of you have been with me since the launch of LOTT over two years ago.  I thank you so much for your loyalty!!  The intent of this blog initially was to bring a higher awareness of the benefits of golf networking to women in business.  I saw very early on that this blog needed to be much more encompassing.  The goal was refocused to striving to get more women worldwide involved in the game for whatever reason not just business.

My personal introduction to the game was an accident.  It was in 1995 and I was rehabbing my right shoulder after surgery.  My passion sport then was tennis.  I am a former Tennis Head Professional and absolutely loved playing, teaching and competing.  While in the surgical recovery process before being released to play tennis again, I was asked to play in a golf scramble.  Prior to that I may have held a golf club 2 or 3 times in my life.  The game of golf was not on my radar!!

Well, that scramble opened my eyes to a sport I knew would be part of my future.  I had great success that day, mostly due to the fact that I could not take a full swing or swing hard for that matter due to my shoulder limitations.  The game seemed simple to me then and I was hooked.  What was all of the fuss about control and hitting the ball where you wanted it to go??  Seemed easy to me.

What a simpleton, I was!!

Once I started to heal and regain strength, I started trying to power the ball and lost my tempos and timing very quickly. Now the true challenges of the game were apparent to me.  I was hooked even more…How could I NOT hit a little white ball where I wanted it to go when it was just lying on the ground completely still?  After all I spent years on the tennis court redirecting shots that were coming at me from all different angles, speeds and various court surfaces.  The golf ball is sitting STILL for goodness sakes.

What a love-hate relationship I, like millions of others, have with this game of golf!!  When my tennis playing days ended a few years ago I devoted my time, energy and business focus on golf.  While I don’t play golf at the same level I played tennis (I am still a ‘newbie’ to the game since I didn’t start playing regularly until I was in my 40s), I view golf as my new passion sport.  I played as often as I could but stayed away from most of the competitive golf on purpose.  I wanted to thoroughly enjoy the game on my terms.

Things were going along nicely until this past season.  I was struggling to just walk normally with pain in my left leg and hip.  It finally got to the point that I had to quit playing because my hip would give out and I could barely play 9 holes.  In 2010, I only played 6 rounds of golf.  How sad is that?

Well, as things would turn out I found out that I had severe damage and tons of arthritis in my left hip.  After many medical consults the recommended course of action was to have a complete hip replacement.  I was lucky!  A few years ago most surgeons were reluctant to do a replacement for people (especially women) under the age of 60.  That was primarily due to the fact that the replacement life span was 15-20 years max… less if you were extremely active.

Today, technology has advanced in so many ways.  The parts used in my replacement (ceramic ball and polyethylene socket) have an estimated 40 year life span…which I still hope to outlive!!  Additionally, the new anterior procedure is much less invasive than going in through the rear (literally).  It requires an incision of maybe 4 inches on the upper thigh versus a 10-12 incision in the gluteus maximus (a..k.a butt)!!  Much less trauma to the muscles, tendons and nerves.  Heck!  I was home the next day even though I was scheduled for a 2-3 hospital stay.

So, I got a new hip for Christmas!  A friend of mine casually pointed out that I was obviously confused.  The song is “I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas’, not ‘hip’!!  Even so, I am so glad I had the surgery.  This is primarily why I have been absent.  It was hard to sit for any lengthy period of time in the early rehab stages so I wasn’t at my computer much.  PLUS, I was on pain meds for a while and I was really trying to protect you from who knows what I might have posted.  I am sure it would have been entertaining but also fodder for future blackmail

Now you have it!   I am happy to be back ‘in the saddle’ or  should that be ‘in the golf cart’??  The real ‘story’ here is that I am looking forward to a renewed vitality on the golf course and playing without that persistent pain.  I am also hoping that by telling you my story a couple of things will happen.  One, if you aren’t a ‘youngster’ don’t think it’s too late to get started playing golf.  This is a game that will last a lifetime and I do plan on playing the rest of my lifetime.  No better time than the present to join in the fun!  Two, if you are having serious joint pain and it is taking away from either your ability to play or your enjoyment of the game while you are playing, go have it CHECKED OUT!  The new medical technologies are simply amazing and continue to improve daily.  You owe it to yourself!!!

Finally… I look forward to ‘seeing’ you on the links this spring!!

Thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee at www.sherrytabb.com.  This season  I would like to feature YOUR stories so please  feel free to send them to me at sherry@sherrytabb.com.

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“Golf Mirrors Life” is a common mantra and I believe, in fact, that it does.  There is so much we can learn from chasing that little white ball all over the hillside.  But, it is not in the mere physical nature of the game that I think is the value.  It is how we conduct ourselves while we play.  How we treat the rest of the golfers and the staff at the courses we play. How we respect the game by taking time to learn the rules & etiquette AND adhere to them so everyone has a good time.  How we relish the joys of the nature we find at the courses…being ‘green’ so that future generations will have the chance to enjoy what we have today.

There is so much we can learn and give back it would take all day to capsulize here so let me just say…”I am so very thankful that golf has become a part of my life.  I am equally thankful that each of you has chosen to share this journey with me via Ladies on the Tee.  Thank you for what you do and who you are.”  That makes this Thanksgiving even more special for me!

Wishing each of you a wonderful Thanksgiving…

even if you don’t officially celebrate it this week.

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In the next few days we will be undergoing a major maintenance overhaul.  While we hope there will be no interruption of service, it is possible there might be some downtime.  We will do everything possible to make this as seamless as possible for you and us:-)

Thank you for your continued support of women’s golf and Ladies on the Tee.

All the best!

Sherry

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One way to improve your golf game is to be able to find the best resources for golf information and instruction. There is a survey currently underway to try to help ascertain what YOU need for YOUR golf game…in a non-invasive way.

Please help us grow the game of golf and improve our games in the manner most befitting our individual styles. All you need to do is to take this very short survey by clicking on the link below. Heck, there even is an offer for some great free golf information just for doing so. Just go here

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QXJHRLV

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Now that the 2010 women’s golf season is winding down and QSchool qualifiers are starting up I would like to take some ‘me’ time and throw out an observation for discussion.  Why is it that the ‘developmental tour for the LPGA – the Duramed FUTURES Tour- does not offer the players an opportunity to eek out a meager living?

Trust me, I understand that this is a tour designed to give talented young women a chance to make it to the big time and the ‘big bucks’ but where is it written that the purses have to be so small that only the winners can seemingly cover expenses?  Do you realize how many women have to quit on their dream of playing professional golf because they can’t afford the costs in trying to do so?

Folks, I am not talking about multi-million dollar purses.  My head isn’t in the sand when it comes to what is happening with our economy and the struggles with sponsorship either.  I know it’s tough out there.  Does that mean we should stay resigned to less than attractive income opportunities for these young women – the future of golf?

The Tour is at a crossroads right now.  Duramed’s sponsorship will not continue past 2010.  The task is to find a new sponsor and to try to build on what has been a solid foundation.  Let’s don’t be complacent with they way it has been.  It’s time to up the ante and move the goal line so more young women and girls may aspire to reach their dream and not go bankrupt or hungry in the process.

My question really is this….Is there a logical reason for keeping the purses as low as they are going forward or is someone at the top keeping the tour in a chokehold?  Have quality personnel left the tour in total frustration because every new idea and suggestion offered up to improve the status of the tour and its players been squashed?  Who is minding the store these days?

Now more than ever this tour needs to be reviewed and possibly revamped.  If this is the ‘farm’ team of the LPGA, I for one would like to see it get a chance to grow and thrive before it is put out to pasture.  No one needs to get rich playing at this level but where’s the harm in making a decent living?

Thanks so much for visiting Ladies on the Tee at www.sherrytabb.com.  This article represents my personal views and I encourage and invite you to chime in with yours!

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Erica played collegiate golf at Arizona, was a two-time All-American and turned pro in 2004. She just recently competed in the Tres Marias Championship in Mexico where she tied for 44th.

“She was a very popular player and well-liked and we’re going to miss her,” David Higdon,  LPGA spokesman  said. “This is a very close-knit group of players and tour and we’re saddened by what happened.”

Statement from Erica Blasberg’s agent, Chase Callahan of REP 1 Sports Group:

“We are devastated to learn of the passing of Erica Blasberg. To most of the world, Erica was known as a professional golfer, but she was more than that. She was a loving daughter to her parents and a compassionate and loyal friend. Erica had a good heart, was extremely kind and very thankful for what she had in her life. She lived out her dream of playing professional golf on the highest level on the LPGA Tour, allowing her to help inspire others. We are proud of Erica for everything she accomplished. This is a painful loss, we feel it in our hearts and we will miss her. Erica would want those close to her to celebrate the life she lived. We ask that you keep Erica and her family in your prayers.”

Our hearts and prayers go out to Erica’s family, both immediate and her LPGA family.  Rest in Peace, Erica!

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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’.

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Brittany is relatively new to the game of golf but her passion for it and her talent belie her lack of tenure playing.  She is a native of Cincinnati.  She, along with her father and brother are the ‘golfers in the family’…but not her mom…she doesn’t golf at all.’

The essay contest was sponsored by Cincinnati-based Rumpke Company, a waste management company.  There were about 25 schools involved and a little over 30 students entered.  Brittany stated “My coaches gave me the honor of representing McAuley in the contest (they gave it to me at a meeting).  I got a letter at school telling me that I had won.”

The essay topic was “Environmental Stewardship’ and I have included her essay in this article.  Her talent goes well beyond the golf course.  She is a great example of what the youth of America has to offer our planet and it’s care going forward.  She appreciates the beauty of the outdoors and that transcends into her love of the game of golf.  We could all take a lesson from young women like Brittany, not so much about how to play golf (even though she is a very good player), but ways to preserve our resources and care for our planet for future generations.

As for Brittany’s future, she is undecided about her college pick but has Georgetown(KY) College, Wittenberg, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) and Northern Kentucky University (NKU) on her list of possiblities.  When asked what she would like to major in she said “I enjoy chemistry and I want to do something in the law so forensic science is kind of the in between.”

We wish Brittany Zins all the success possible in the future.  She is definitely a ‘stand-out’ personality and a very conscientious and talented individual.  It was this author’s pleasure to have met her.

Here is a re-print of her winning essay:

Brittany Zins

May 11, 2009

Environmental Stewardship

During the summer I enjoy playing golf outside in the beautiful nature, surrounded by occasional birdies, eagles, and many times family and friends. As I look around I notice in wonder and awe the trees, bushes, and even lakes. Although, while playing the game I try to avoid these things, I can’t help but wonder; without more stewards for the environment would these beautiful courses be here in 20 years?

Today many companies and citizens are trying to go green to help change the way in which we use the resources our environment offers. Changes such as hybrid vehicles and solar power are the newest ideas. I too am trying to make changes such as these with my family. Both my parents have switched to hybrid cars. This helps reduce the amount of pollutants our cars expel into the air. Car exhaust isn’t the only thing our new hybrid cars offer. They also conserve gas, a nonrenewable resource being quickly consumed in today’s fast paced world.

Along with changing cars, I also help recycle at home and school. Recycling plays a major part in helping to conserve the environment. Living within the environment, there are animals. By recycling I help save the lives of these animals that could eventually die out from human pollutants. Saving animals from extinction for future generations to enjoy, is being a good steward for the environment. Recycling helps to reduce the rate in which landfills are filling and the rate our natural resources are being consumed. Protecting our environment is important. Trees provide oxygen in our world. A great way to help offset deforestation is by planting a tree every year.

In an attempt to be more conscientious about utility bills in today’s economy, our family has developed energy saving routines. An environmental and money saving change we made at home recently is the use of florescent light bulbs instead of incandescent. This helps reduce the amount of energy used when lighting the room. Another conservation habit we developed is unplugging unused electronic devices and turning off lights when leaving a room. Our laundry habits have changed as well. Running the washing machine on cold water and the dryer on low heat helps to decrease the amount of energy used. Being more energy efficient is better for the environment.

The only pure, non polluted water left in our world comes from ice caps. When we use up our current water supply the ice caps will be the only thing left. For this reason I run water as little as possible. Conserving water through taking short showers, brushing my teeth without running water, and running the dishwasher only when full are a few ways which I try to help conserve.

Conserving our environment is very important to me because I would like for the rainforest, ice caps, and even golf courses to be here for my children and grandchildren to see. Saving the environment is part of our job as human beings.

Thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee Golf Blog at www.sherrytabb.com.  We hope you enjoyed ‘meeting’ Brittany.  If you are aware of other ‘stand-out’ stories please let us now.  As always, your comments are welcome and appreciated!

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