Recently I played in one of the Duramed Championship’s Pro-Am in Mason, OH. I was teamed with Local News Anchor, Cammy Dierking, Brittany Zins, a local high school golfer who won an essay contest provided by Rumpke, a Cincinnati based company and our Pro- Angela Buzminksi, a LPGA and Duramed Tour player. The weather wasn’t the best as it was cool and damp but fortunately not raining. The course, The Golf Center at Kings Island, was very soggy from the recent rains but in very good condition in spite of that.
There is something special about teeing it with someone who makes a living playing golf. Angela was the perfect ‘host’ for our team. She understands that Pro-Ams are for the amateurs playing. She went out of her way to make sure we had a good time. Boy! Did we ever have a good time. It wasn’t about how well we played, even though we scored very close to to the top teams. A Pro-Am is about getting to spend time with a great golfer, supporting the tour event and its chosen charity, getting to know other golfers and even getting some visibility for your business.
As I waited in the staging area for the event I looked around and was dismayed at the low number of women playing. Here we are at a Women’s Professional Golf Event and there were only 12 women out of the 78 amateur golfers in the first Pro-Am. Of the 26 teams only 2 were all female. The 2nd Pro-Am had only 9 women out of 81 amateurs and no all female teams.
Women what is the matter with you?
Granted for some the economics may be the problem as these types of Pro-Ams can cost $750 per person and up. So for some it may be simply a matter of affordability. However, for most women it is a case of being intimidated and not feeling like they play golf well enough to enter.
Hogwash! The majority of us who play in a Pro-Am are not good golfers. In fact, there are more hackers than scratch or low-handicap golfers so please let go of that golf myth. Also, the majority of players are sponsored by their companies and guess who gets picked to play…the men in the office. Why? Because women aren’t taking advantage of golf in the business setting.
If those women that do play golf speak up and let their companies know that they want to play when these events come up there is a better chance of breaking down the old boys network. It takes being proactive and going after these kinds of opportunities. Sitting back and waiting for things to change on their own will result in nothing changing. The saying “If it is to be it’s up to me” hits the proverbial nail on the head. It’s time to step up and get in the game!!
The memories I have of playing with Angela, Cammy and Brittany at the Duramed Championship will last for years to come. I even got a couple of great tips from our pro and found myself following a golfer that I got to know by playing golf with her for 4 1/2 hours. There was a “Meet the Pro” reception, a very nice gift package and much, much more. That my friends is PRICELESS.
If you are lucky enough to have a LPGA or Duramed Tour event any where near where you live, please get involved. I promise, you will be forever glad that you did.
Thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee golf blog at www.sherrytabb.com. Your comments are welcome and encouraged.
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Tags: Angela Buzminski, Cammy Dierking, Duramed Championship, Duramed FUTURES Tour, golf, Golf Pro-Ams, LPGA, Women's Golf
[...] Original post: The Value of Golf ProAm Events | Ladies on the Tee [...]
[...] In addition to that event, there were 2 ProAms where the young women play side-by-side with the ‘average’ and ‘hack’ golfers, share stories, shots and perhaps, golf tips when requested. Check out this article for more on Pro-Ams. [...]
[...] playing in a Duramed ProAm in Mason, OH I was teamed with a young high school golfer that was awarded a spot in the event via [...]
I just return from my daughters college golf tourament. Her name is Brittany Zins. She had the pleasure of golfing in the 2009 ProAm at Kings Island with Cammy Dierking, Angela Buzminksi and yourself. She still talks about that to this day. I wanted to update you on what she is doing now and several points you bring up in your articles. She decided to play golf for Union College in Kentucky. A small NAIA school but a very proud one. I just returned from a tournament in Marietta Georgia where she placed #5 and made the conference All Touramnent team. You can say I am a proud father.
Brittany took the game of golf up going into her Freshman year of High School at McAuley. Determination and hard work had her excell to a top 50 player in Cinncinnati by her senior year. For those women who do not think they can play golf it can be done like anything else with a little effort. Her Freshman year she never broke 50 for nine holes. Her senior year her average was 42. Union College offered her a scholarship and she continues to progress. SHe has that never give up mentality.
What really supprised me was the amount of parents that do not show up not only high school matches but college as well. Out of 40 women golfers in this last tournament they were only 6-7 parents there to support them. Somehow someway we all need to get out and not only play golf but watch and support women golfers from high school through the LPGA. Ever since she started playing I have found myself not only watching every match she has played in but also watching the LPGA. If we all could support the LPGA and its sponsors maybe they would have more events on television.
Dave, thanks so much for your wonderful comments. The points you make about supporting women’s golf are spot on. Keep spreading the word about women’s golf and please give my best to Brittany. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting her and playing with her in the ProAm. She is a wonderful young woman and talented golfer.