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Legends of the Women’s Game Share Stories
There are so many pre-events leading up to the actual competition in the Biennial Solheim Cup, pitting the top twelve women golfers from Europe playing against the top twelve women in the United States. These events go largely unnoticed unless you are physically present at the event.
The Past Captains Exhibition and Autograph session held on the practice range prior to the official Opening Ceremonies was one of these events. Imagine sitting 20-some feet away from legends of the game of golf such as, Kathy Whitworth, Alice Miller, Joanne Carner, Judy Rankin, Pat Bradley, Patty Sheehan, Betsy King, Mickey Walker, Pia Nillson and Dale Reid. The last 3 mentioned have served as Captain for the European Team. The event was designed to allow these icons of women’s golf to share their personal stories and reflections of Solheims past and boy, did they deliver!! (Nancy Lopez was not on hand as she was Captaining the US Junior PING Solheim Cup to victory at a neighboring course).
Kathy Whitworth and Mickey Walker were first to address the crowd that gathered on a cool but sunny afternoon at the practice range at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, IL. They shared the story of how Louise and Karsten Solheim (Founder of PING Golf) had a vision of putting together an event to showcase what they thought were the best golfers in the world and have it played in a team format, something very foreign to most golfers. The original plan was to run the event for 10 years…that was in 1990. Thankfully, the Solheim Cup has far exceeded that original plan.
Everyone of the past captains spent some time sharing their personal experiences. They explained that the early days had fans only numbering in the 100s as opposed to the 2009 crowds far exceeding the 100,000 projections. Patty Sheehan told humorous stories about parings that were a disaster that the US Captain had been told by the players to avoid at all costs (names not shared to protect the innocent 
) and shared the time the European team decided to ignore the “Do Not Disturb’ signs on the US players doors and proceeded to march up and down the hall where both teams were housed singing at the top of their lungs.
The insight and peak back into the time capsule of golf revealed treasures that these women have carried with them for a lifetime…and were sharing with us. You could close your eyes and be transported back to the time that it all started and picture them, in their youth, paving the way for what we were about to witness in the 20th anniversary of the Solheim Cup.
The Cup has survived Karsten Solheim, who has passed away but his widow and wife of 63 years, Louise, was on–hand with her son, John, and other family members to personally witness what was spawned 20 years prior as a vision grow into THE Women’s golf PREMIER event.
Here are some pictures to enjoy a small bit of what happened on the practice range:
(Click to enlarge)
These WOMEN Rock!! Thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee Golf Blog at www.sherrytabb.com.
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Tags: Kathy Whitworth, LET, Louise and Karsten Solheim, LPGA, Nancy Lopez, Patty Sheehan, Ping, Rich Harvest Farms, Solheim Cup, Women's Golf
Dear Sherry,
The other day I wrote this piece on Linkedin.com
The Solheim Cup, What are your thoughts?
One of the best tournaments I’ve ever seen. I had stopped watching women’s golf a few years ago, plain and simple, boring. Not this match. I sat for three days, all day, watching the best golf I’ve ever seen. As a woman golfer years ago I think I liked it so much because the cameras covered all players, not just favorites, as they do weekend golf with women. The comradery between players was beautiful, and how each team acknowledge the other is what golf is all about. The dancing and crying makes it all worth while, especially when you win. I was surprised by two women commentators who got down on Kim, for her dancing antics, and not concentrating on the game. Needless to say Kim proved them wrong when she sunk long putts to win or half a hole. Wie, has come into her own, and I think will be one of the greatest women golfers of all time. At the end when they raised countries flags then lowered them, and Julie Inkster and her two children sang the national anthem and lowered the US flag, I let ‘my’ tears flow along with theirs. It will be her last, but this is what golf is about. Always acknowledging your opponent, first before yourself. GREAT GOLF.
Sherry, take a look at the comments that came back.
Rose Lamatt
Rose, I have been to other Solheim events but this far exceeded the other experiences primarily because I was on hand for 5 full days this time. The spirit of competition and respect for the other team was magnified on every hole in every round. The great thing was the fan turnout and especially seeing all of the young boys and girls with their moms and dads. Kudos the LPGA for their Kids Free policy and the time the players took with the youngsters during the practice rounds. It’s a great way to get the youngsters interested in the game!!
I’ll check out the LinkedIn conversation…Sherry
[...] to look back at the glorious history of this premier women’s golf event. I stated in a previous article that Karsten and Louise Solheim started this magnificent competition between the best women golfers [...]