If golf's good enough for James Bond...it's good enough for me

I am a huge James Bond fan. But more than that, I'm a huge Sean Connery fan - the greatest James Bond ever IMHO.

So when I saw this story in the Daily Telegraph Sport from the UK, I just had to share it.

I realize that I can't add any brilliant commentary to this article, but I thought that there might be one or two of you out there who love James Bond, Sean Connery and golf - just like me. I have this strange feeling that I should being drinking a vodka martini - shaken...not stirred.

Anyway, this article was written as if the great Bond himself put pen to paper. I can even hear his voice as I read it.

Most North Americans would never read a UK paper, so I decided to post it here, just in case, someone from this continent wants to know more about the great Sean Connery and his passion for golf.

What I love is that he married another golfer. To me, that's a match made in heaven - golf heaven that is...

Enjoy!

Golfgal

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Goldfinger inspired Connery’s lifelong love affair with the links

Sport
25 Aug 2008

I NEVER had a hankering to play golf, despite growing up in Scotland just down the road from Bruntsfield Links, which is one of the oldest golf courses in the world. It wasn’t until I was taught enough golf to look as though I could outwit the...read more...

Tech Tags: Sport newspaper Golf

LPGA mandates English in Women's Golf - Please tell me it isn't so!

When I first heard about this ruling by the LPGA I said to myself..."Don't get involved - no big deal - just a sponsor grab." And then I thought about it some more and I realized that this is way beyond a sponsor suck-up - this could change the face of women's golf as a sport globally.

So now I have to share my opinion. This is not about sponsorship - this is not about English fans - it's not about pro-ams - this is about imposing one language on an international sport. This is about civil rights - it's about more than golf being entertainment in the USA - it's about golf being a global sport! If this ruling is allowed to take affect, it goes against everything we've been trying to say about golf being a sport and not just a TV game show.

The LPGA stands for Ladies Professional Golf Association, just like NHL stands for National Hockey League. No real "Sport" mandates language proficiency, so where does the LPGA get off mandating such a ridiculous requirement?

The PGA doesn't do it and look at KJ Choi - I've been watching him using translators for years and, yes, he's trying to improve his English, but can you imagine suspending him just before he won Jack's tournament or Tiger's last year???

This is nuts!

I agree that the international talent (most South Korean) is making things a bit tricky for the LPGA, but this attempt at solving that problem shows me that the LPGA executives are incompetent at making good business decisions in tough situations - they are panicking and they are embarrassing themselves.

I am sad today to be a woman who golfs. Okay, I'm a hacker, but I love golf and I believe it is an international sport worthy of the same rights, freedoms and stature of the biggest sport organizations in the world. And none of those....not one, mandates English as a requirement.
It's about the talent - the performance - the results. Language is completely and utterly irrelevant.

Okay, I've had my say...but I still want to know..who can stop this ludicrous ruling?!

Golfgal

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Non-English-speaking players need not apply
LORNE RUBENSTEIN rube@sympatico.ca
The Globe and Mail
27 Aug 2008

The LPGA Tour has a major marketing and sponsorship problem because many of its top players are either not fluent in English or don’t speak it at all. That’s why it announced yesterday that it will insist its players speak English to a certain standard...read more...

Tech Tags: The Globe and Mail newspaper Sports

Highway 18 - Episode 5: Eye Candy is Dandy!

Well, we're at episode 5 of Highway 18 and we've yet to see an elimination. I'm pretty happy about that - I'd like to see a close race to the finish and I've grown to like all the teams - all for different reasons. It will be tough to watch any of them go home.

Tonight we saw the teams head to Golf Channel's studios to audition their best on-camera news stories from the Golf Central desk. On-air personality Tom Abbott judged the auditions, which determined the order the teams got to head to Nick Faldo's Institute for a chipping challenge.

I have to say I was a little disappointed that Mr. Abbott tied the last 3 teams - a bit of a cop-out if you ask me, but I wasn't there and maybe they were all really really bad. :)

Anyway, the chipping challenge at the Nick Faldo Institute was fun and sad to watch at the same time. It was "ridiculous" watching Ashleigh chip in so fast, but she did get some schooling from her trusty partner. Meanwhile, Peach struggled so much with that shot - I really felt badly for him. I could see myself in his shoes.

At the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort in Tampa, the whole show seemed a bit surreal - those that were at the bottom of the heap, rose to the top, and those at the top, crashed and burned. Rob really struggled with that par 4 and Jay was playing someone else's game. It was bizarre. But hey - that's golf!!!

This week I'll add all of the interviews to this one post to keep them altogether. Let me know what you think of this approach. I'm experimenting :)

First, let's talk to a real winner tonight - Ms. Eye Candy #1, Ashleigh Korzack.

Now, this is one interview you don't want to miss - the ever-hilarious and all round good guy, Parker King...

Next, we'll hear from Jay Reynolds, who had a day that started off so great and ended so badly...


Next up, a contestant without any strikes, but who did come in last in one episode. Funny how that happened...I expect next week Rob and Charlotte will be awarded a very tough hole if any of the contestants have anything to do with that...




Raul always has good background and inside info on what went on behind the scenes...



With yet another muscle injury, I think stretching should be mandatory for the teams every AM on this show - it's starting to get dangerous.

Charlotte joined me later on Wednesday to share her thoughts on the show and we had a great chuckle over Rob's putting song at Innisbrook. What's next...a tap dance on the tee? :)

See you next week!

Golfgal

Highway 18 - Surprise Surprise - 1st strike gets immunity

Well, things certainly have been interesting for Raul and Jameica. First episode, they came "this close" to going home and now they enjoy immunity and watch the others struggle through a challenge where they call the shots.

There's been quite a bit of talk this week about the strategy used by Raul and Jameica to hand out holes to the other Highway 18 contestants in episode 4. Should they have handed the hardest hole to Jay and Peach when they could have possibly eliminated Ashley and Ashleigh?

I wanted to ask both of them what was their reasoning behind the hole assignments and hear what they thought about the two episodes and what it was like getting the first immunity on the show.





I think their strategy was pretty sound - certainly they thought carefully about it and it makes sense to me. Why eliminate someone you think you can beat anyway? Take down the strongest. I said it before - very Survivor-like.

But...according to Jameica, it looks like the Ashley and Ashleigh team will be "doing whatever it takes" again next week to get ahead. Some may not like their style, but you have to admire their spunk and tenacity.

Golfgal

Highway 18 - What goes up must come down...

...and up and down and up and down...for Asheigh and Ashley.

Episode 3 and 4 of Highway 18 were pretty topsy-turvy days for these two passionate young ladies. Can you imagine being 20 minutes ahead of your competition to find out it really didn't matter? All the pain and exhaustion for nothing, especially when the day before you were awarded a strike?

We watched Ashley and Ashleigh running like crazy with clubs flying out of their bags and reaching the finish line on such a high, only to watch Rob and Charlotte come in dejected and depressed and suddenly, smiles turn to tears and frowns turn upside down.

Talk about a turn about! I guess you really can't count on anything on this show - a lesson A&A certainly learned the hard way.

I had a chance to chat with Ashley this week between her classes and got her perspective on episode 3 and also 4 where some things turned around yet again for them, with a crazy putt from Parker King.



So we are already seeing some teams starting to work on behalf of each other to take out the top. I'm starting to feel like I'm watching Survivor.

Golfgal

Highway 18 - Rob and Charlotte's Dive and Catch

Well episode 3 and 4 should be called the Rollercoaster 18, not Highway 18 for Rob and Charlotte. They certainly did dodge a pretty big bullet on week 3 and that "big break" helped them breeze through episode 4 to stay on top of the score board with Jay and Peach.

I was rather surprised at Ashley Davis' "Yes!" exclamation when Rob missed his shot at the race track. I wanted to ask Rob how he felt when he heard that for the first time on TV and about the tension that is mounting between them and Ashley and Ashleigh. His answer may surprise you, as well as some inside scoop on what happened at the race track when contestants tried to "leave the track".

I'm always happy when I get to interview both halves of a team - you get different perspectives on the same content. Today was no exception as I was able to catch the eloquent Charlotte on her way to play one of the last Duramed FUTURES tour events in PA.

Oh...BTW...did you know that these contestants have a professional camera guy riding shotgun all the time? Each team had one camera man for the entire show to film them (at the beginning when they are in the line-up, in the car, running in challenges, etc.) Also, in the back of the Buick there is a production assistant that is writing down everything the contestants say and time plotting what was interesting about the trip. Boy, I'd love that job! I could turn it all into a book or certainly a magazine article or two or three. :)

So...these "amateur actors" are surrounded by media all the time. I'm amazed at how well they handle that. I don't know about you, but that would freak out a lot of people. I guess that's one of the things they must look for in the selection interviews.

Anyway...I'm curious what fun awaits these two at Faldo's institute. Imagine having to chip until you hole a shot. I'd still be there!
Golfgal

Highway 18 - Jay Joins in on the Jockularity

It's been two weeks since I've been able to watch any of Highway 18 as I've been working hard on my tan in sunny Playa Del Carmen :) Actually, I've really missed the show. I get Golf Channel by satellite here, but for some reason, Highway 18 airs 1 week behind the USA and Canada. Oh well, I finally got to watch episode 3 last night and caught up on what happened in last night's show as well from the GC recap and friends and contestants who were able to watch it.

I will be interviewing many of the contestants this week covering the last two shows to try and catch up, so come back and check those out. Today, I was really happy I was able to connect with Jay Reynolds to get his perspective on the shows to date. He and his dad are definitely front-runners in this series and it looks like they are sitting pretty with no strikes against them going into episode 5.

Next week, it's lights, camera and action when the contestants visit GOLF CHANNEL studios to host a Golf Central highlight package and put up with some pretty harsh criticism, according to the latest preview data from GC (but, it couldn't be worse than the forums I'm sure :)).

Then it’s off to the Faldo Institute for a chipping challenge, where teams are not allowed to continue until they hole out a shot. Finally, with elimination on the line, it’s off to Innisbrook Resort to follow in the footsteps of the PGA TOUR on the famed Copperhead Course, which we hear is amazing from a man who's played a lot of golf on a lot of courses.

I can't wait!

Golfgal

Four days in the life of an LPGA volunteer

Have you ever been behind the ropes for an LPGA or PGA championship? Me neither. But I've always wanted to be up close and personal with the best in the world and so someday, my day will come. Until then, I'm going to have to rely on my golfing friends to tell me all about it.

This past weekend, I was fortunate to get the inside scoop on the LPGA Canadian Open from a new 'virtual friend' that I met on Facebook - Mr. Bill Roberts.

Bill (which one are you Bill?) was a "walking scorer" at the CN Canadian Open and I asked him if he would give me a recap of his daily experiences so I could live vicariously through him and share with the rest of you what it was really like back there with the world's greatest golfgals.

First, let me introduce Bill to you...

Bill has been a fan of golf all his life. In Toronto as a young man he watched Arnold Palmer win his first tournament as a pro. He also watched Gene Littler compete at the Canadian Open in Toronto the year he won the US Amateur and turned professional the same year. He witnessed Jackie Cupid win the rain delayed Canadian Open in Winnipeg and Sherry Stienhaur win the DuMaurier Classic in Winnipeg when it was a major.

Bill has attended the last few LPGA Canadian Opens in London, Niagara Fall and Glen Abby in Toronto. He was at one of the first senior tournaments involving George Knudson and Billy Casper when it was called the Legends of Golf. He followed Gary Player in his prime and watched Stan Leonard play an exhibition game in Winnipeg. He's proud to call Dan Halldorson a friend.

For the past 5 years Bill has attended the LPGA Corning Classic in Corning N.Y. and the State Farm Classic in Springfield. Illinois. The year Carin Koch won at Corning Bill was invited by a member to come back the following year as a volunteer. He loved it so much that he's been back every year since.

Yup, Bill's a golf junkie alright!

This year Bill was hoping to walk the Pro Am with Natalie Gulbis, but she ended up skipping that event (no wonder, once you read about her experiences trying to get to Ottawa).

Instead he marked score for Jee Young Lee and according to Bill, "She is such a sweetheart; she can hit the ball a mile."

Jee Young Lee's group finished -15 which Bill thought might have been the winning team. However, -19 ended up being the best score of the day, lead by tour pro Jin Joo Hong in the morning rounds.

After witnessing the Pro Am, Bill predicted, "The Ottawa Hunt Club is in pristine condition. I think the pro with the hot putter will win this Open." I loved reading that about the Hunt Club, having lived in Ottawa for 33 years - I am very proud of that beautiful city and its golf clubs.

Anyway...on with Bill's story....

DAY 1: Thursday, August 14, 2008...

"Thursday I am paired with the group Megan Francella, Michele Redman and Julieta Granada. You remember Julieta who won the 1 million dollar first prize at the Samsung World Championship at the Donald Trump course. It always amazes me to see these ladies hit a ball long and straight, I would give anything to hit them like that. Not only do these girls rock, they are perfect ladies who, I am sure sometimes curse under their breath in a fit of anger, but I never saw anything like that. I just love them all.

The weatherman called for cloudy periods in the morning and rain in the afternoon but it turned out to be hot and dry. Before I left the club I was able to get up close to Annika as she came off the 9th green by the scorers tent. The crowd let up a roar like I have never heard in golf before it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, what a feeling. She looked a little surprised by the attention she was attracting. Ottawa sure loves Annika.

I almost bumped into Paula Creamer walking to the driving range. That girl has a look of confidence just by the way she walks; she has star quality written all over her. I did get a chance to follow Michelle Wie for a few holes. She sure knows her way around a golf course. I just wish the media would get off her case and give her a break. If I wasn’t so drained from the two days of walking in the heat I might have stayed around and followed a few groups, but we had to go and tend to our wounded bodies. As it happened, the local TV was televising the late starters so we enjoyed a few hours of armchair golf."

Okay, I'm starting to get jealous. Bill's got a bird's eye view of everything and everyone.

DAY 2: Friday, August 15, 2008...

"Today I had my toughest assignment. I was paired with Il Mi Chung and Kyeong Bae from South Korea and Ontario amateur champ Stephanie Sherlockl They are all sweet girls who can hit the ball a mile. Unfortunately, I had never heard of any of them.

The two South Korean girls where about the same age, same stature and wore similar clothing. Part of a scorekeeper’s job is to record the proper score to the right golfer, but by the second hole I was starting to panic trying to figure out who was who. Fortunately for me, one of the spectators outside the ropes could sense this and approached me with some help in separating the two girls.


One of the girls, II Mi Chung, was wearing shorts with Daisy Duck embroidered on the back pocket. Knowing this made a big difference and thankfully everything went well for the rest of the way.

A friend and I hurried off to keep a 2:30 tee time at Cedarhills G&CC it is a short drive from the Hunt Club a nice course from the back tees. It started to rain around the 7th hole but we waited it out and completed an enjoyable round but we had to share the 15th hole with a gaggle of geese who thought they owned the hole. It wasn’t until we arrived back to the hotel that we found out that the LPGA had suspended play and left half the field to complete play in the morning."

Daisy Duck saves the day! Haha...that's too funny, Bill.

DAY 3: Saturday, August 1, 2008

"I had received a text message advising all volunteers to report for their scheduled assessments as per posted. I arrived at the course at 7:30 and was advised that 1:30 was my assignment. I was later told that the 1:30 tee time was He Young Park of South Korea, Giulia Sergas of Italy and Louise Friberg of Sweden. At last I get to meet Louise! I read her diary every day -- she is the real deal and regularly posts a story on her web page every day. What a nice surprise to meet her.

Because of the later start, I had some time to enjoy some of the golf. Half the late starters from Friday where out on the course completing their second round so I picked a nice spot on the 18th fairway to cover their approach shots and putting. The weather was sunny and hot but I picked a nice shady area to spend the morning. The 3rd round was scheduled to start at 12:00 noon and Natalie Gulbis and Suzann Pettersen were scheduled to tee off at 12:20. I made sure I was there on the first tee inside the ropes, I actually held the ropes for Natalie Gulbis and she gave me a huge smile and a cheerful thank you. She is actually more beautiful in person than her photos or TV appearances tell you. I lost all sense of time and ended up running to the 10th tee for my assignment.

The first three days I packed for rainy and cool weather and I lugged this pack sack around in the heat but today I took a chance a left it back at the hotel. Finally I had made the right decision. It was hot, hot, hot, and the blister on my heel was getting sorer. We started on the 10th hole and Giulia chipped in for eagle while He Yong and Louise one putted for birdies. Wow what a start! They played steady golf for the rest of the day. He Young Park is a lovely girl and my guess is that she would weigh about 120 lbs. Some of her tee shots were averaging 285 yards!!! I don’t know where all that power comes from --- it amazes me, it just amazes me. "

At 5' 7" and with my average yardage, it's hard for me to believe what these ladies can do - and they make it look so easy. How do they do it?

DAY 4: Sunday, August 2, 2008

Unfortunately, Bill couldn't attend the final day in Ottawa and watch Katherine Hull win the trophy, but he took away wonderful memories and a plan...

"Everyone of those ladies on the LPGA tour are very special people and it was my pleasure just to be associated with their world. I am unable to spend the Sunday with them but I will enjoy them on TV while soaking my feet in Epson salts. I have already put my application in to the 2009 LPGA Canadian Open in Calgary Alberta."

Yup, now I'm really jealous. I could have been in Ottawa in Bill's shoes had I planned better and not booked my vacation in Mexico with the family during the event. ARG! Not only did I miss a once in a lifetime opportunity to voluneer for an LPGA event in my home town, I'm also missing all of the Highway 18 shows for two whole weeks!

Oh, sure, the sun, surf and sand are great, and I'm getting to play golf in 90 degree weather, but that's not enough. I want it all! Next year, I'm planning our vacation in Alberta during the Open and I'm going to be there with bells on!

Thanks Bill for sharing your experiences at the Cdn Open. I look forward to meeting you in person next year in Calgary!


Golfgal

Highway 18 - Parker and Andy - These country boys let the good times roll!

No matter who you talk to about Highway 18, one thing is for sure, the good ole boys, Parker and Andy come into the conversation. They are a hoot - no question about it. Those country boys keep you laughing.

I couldn't wait to talk to them both about their experience on Highway 18 and the backstage joking around that we hear so much about.

Can you imagine playing Rock, Paper, Sissors in front of the "King", Arnold Palmer to see who would get stuck answering the trivia question? Haha...I can just see the look on Mr. Palmer's face. Oh my!

Anyway, I laughed my way through my interviews with these southern gents. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did...

Nascar + Andy + Parker = a lethal combination at Daytona. I can't wait to hear what comes out of their mouths on next week's show.

Good Luck Andy at the Wyndham next week!

Golfgal

Highway 18: Rob and Charlotte - Double DNA = Double Trouble

As much as I love the PGA, I did miss watching Highway 18 this week on Golf Channel. But the good news is that I was able to take the time to interview 3 more of the contestants on the show and get their thoughts on the first two episodes and what happened behind the cameras.

Many of the TV viewers have already chosen their favorites to win and Rob and Charlotte are definitely considered to be "in contention" by many of the fans. And after watching them come from behind in episode 2, it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see them go far.

Although Rob plays golf mostly for fun now, he does have a solid amateur record in his younger years. And Charlotte is a full time professional, playing on the Duramed FUTURES Tour with many of the ladies from Big Break Ka'anapali. Rob and Charlotte both have game and they are both extremely competitive. If what we hear is true (that it all comes down to the golf), then these two are certainly in the "running" (pun intended ;))

Let's hear what they think of the show so far and what we might look forward to down the road...

Well, it would appear that we're headed for an episode with many more twists and turns and things are going to get even crazier. I just hope no one crashes in next week's show when the contestants are Off to the Races at Daytona.

Golfgal