Big Break Sandals 2: From Immunity to Elimination, just like that!

Well, in only 2 days, Kelly certainly had her share of ups and downs on the Big Break Sandals.

One day she's holding the Send/Save card and the next she's taking the walk of shame.

They say that the Big Break isn't "real golf", but when you see those kinds of highs and lows, you start to think it's very much like this fickle game we play. Birdie one hole and double bogey the next. It's a wonder we keep coming back for more. Golfers must be born masochists.

At 32, Kelly is the oldest player on the Big Break. She comes with a lot of experience as a successful golf pro at the Reunion Resort in Orlando. So it made me wonder how she missed that 8 iron shot when Seema literally handed her the get out of jail card.

Taryn gives us an inside look at the Sudden Death playoff, shares her thoughts on the elimination challenge and Kelly's performance, and clears the air on something she supposedly said, but really didn't...



Oh those editors! :)

Carling "dancing queen" Coffing certainly had a fun day in paradise. Let's hear more about what she thought of the first 2 shows of the season and her send/save choice...



Thanks Taryn and Carling!

Next week it looks like the Shark will shake things up a bit. Can't wait!

Golfgal

Big Break Sandals Episode 1: Elena Ends Early

Did you call this one? I sure didn't. Seeing Maiya look like she'd burst into tears any minute in her post-day interview compared to confidence of Elena radiating from the TV, if I was a betting person, I would have been taking to the cleaners.

But it wasn't Maiya who's clock was cleaned last night. Poor Elena - she looked so good at the beginning, but it's amazing how the tables can turn in golf. One minute you're on the top of your game and the next minute, you're on the bottom looking up.

And it's not like Elena is the worst player in the group. She's already proven she's got game. At Ferris State she posted five collegiate victories, received two-time Second Team All-American honors, was Conference Freshman of the Year, 2006 Conference Player of the Year and a three-time MVP. Strange, though, how the Big Break can break even the best.

It's been a crazy week for me, covering the TELUS Skins Game Monday and Tuesday, so I am behind on my BB interviews. But I am very happy I was able to connect with Taryn Durham earlier today to get her perspective on the show.

Thanks Taryn!

Next week I hope to chat with Taryn again as well as a couple of the others ladies I missed this week. Send me some questions if something's on your mind and I'll include them in my interviews.

Golfgal

From golf dreams to getaways

It doesn’t take much encouragement for me to start hunting for my next golf vacation. Just turning on European Golf on Saturday mornings can be enough to make me start scouring the Internet for cheap airfares to new courses and golf adventures. But this week, my incentive came from a very strange dream…

After two fun, but tiring days covering the TELUS Skins Game at Bear Mountain on Vancouver Island, I came home exhausted, and a little bit punchy too. I unpacked my suitcase and hung up my latest favorite piece of golf attire - a new belt designed by none other than Ian Poulter.

I guess I must have had Poulter on my brain when I went to bed, because the moment my head hit the pillow I was dreaming of being at the British Open at St. Andrews with Ian, wearing one of those white caddie jumpsuits that looked like it was meant for the Masters (Okay, so I get my majors mixed up in dreams).

The jumpsuit was way too big for me so I had to wrap my new IP belt around my waist so I didn't look like the Pillsbury Dough-girl.

Anyway, as we walked the links, I asked Ian if I could hit his next shot (What was I thinking!!!!). He slowly turned and gave me the "Poulter stare". I felt like I'd just clicked the shutter on my camera in the middle of his backswing. I immediately woke up in a sweat.

Aren't dreams crazy? They make so much sense at the time, but a few hours later you wonder if you were reliving some LSD flashback. Not, that I'd know about those things. ;)

But for this dream, I had a pretty good idea of its source, if not its script.

Yesterday, on the 17th hole of the TELUS Skins Game, Ian was in the middle of his backswing when one of the media guys behind the tee box clicked too early. Ian stopped mid-swing and did an immediate about-face to the guy. Oh my...I wouldn't have wanted to be him...

But before Ian could say anything, the entire gallery of thousands poured out boos and sounds of shame aimed at the photographer. I didn't see the poor guy, but I bet he turned 10 shades of red.

Ian could not keep a straight face. I guess he was surprised see the crowd pull together like that for him. Ian turned to restart his pre-shot routine with a funny grin on his face.

And then suddenly from behind me, about 10 yards from the tee box, a guy yelled out, "Bang it tight, Ian. Bang it tight!" To which Poulter yelled back, "I've got it!", and then proceeded to rip his ball waaaay Right,...not Tight. R...T...two letters that are pretty close together in the alphabet, but miles apart on course. Ooops!

Now, one might think that Ian would be pretty upset at this point. After all, he has a reputation for having a bit of a temper. I know it was just a charity event and that the guys are always more relaxed. But this was the 2nd last hole of the tournament and there was $245,000 on that one hole.

I was expecting Ian to show a bit more frustration. But he just walked up to his ball joking with the crowd about his 'loveley" lie, and then just whacked it out. Quite the follow through don't you think?



All day I’ve been thinking about the dream and its source, and I have decided it must have been a "sign". Either I’m headed for caddie school or it’s time to seriously look at how I’m going to make my way to the home of golf – St. Andrews.

Walking the hallowed fairways of Tom Morris’ home club and crossing the bridge at the 18th, pausing to put my foot up on the stone as Jack did not so long ago, is something I’ve always “dreamed” about. And now, those conscious dreams seem to have infiltrated my REM sleep. Yup, it’s time to put a serious plan together to golf in Scotland.

Over the next few weeks I am going to pick the courses and set up a tour for summer 2010. I'll keep you posted on that. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.

Meanwhile, it’s time for me to hit the sack and pick up where I left off in last night's dream. Hmmmm…I wonder if Ian's still glaring at me.

Golfgal

TELUS Skins Game - Why the pros keeps coming back for more...

It’s been 18 years since the first TELUS Skins Game hit Ontario in 1993.  Even in its first year, the event attracted the best of the best -- Jack Nicklaus, Nick Price, Ray Floyd and Freddie Couples.

18 years later, some of the names may have changed, but what hasn’t changed is the calibre of professionals who annually flock to Canada to play two pro-ams and a two day charity event.

This all after one of the toughest weeks of US Open competition in recent memory.

Ian Poulter, being kind to the USGA, called it, “a very difficult test of golf and stressful week”.

This year Freddie made his 11th appearance; Mike Weir, his 8th and Retief Goosen, Camilo Villegas and Ian Poulter returned for their 2nd.

What makes them come back every year after being beaten up at the US Open?

Why don't they just go home and lick their wounds?

Some more jaded individuals might think it’s the pampering they receive from the sponsors or the lofty appearance fees they allegedly receive.

But for golf lovers like me and the thousands of other fans who attend this event year after year, from the Yukon to Labrador, we believe that these golf guys love playing golf in the Great White North for all the right reasons.  Why else would 4 out of the 5 players this week have already committed to playing the Canadian Open this year?

It certainly can’t be the weather, with last year’s Open forced into a Monday final with torrential rains.

Even on the first day of summer at Bear Mountain, temperatures never reached above 16 degrees.

So when asked in the media tent after their first day why they keep coming back, it was no surprise to this writer that their answers were unanimous – it’s the quality of the event, what it does for local charities, the quality of the venues they get to play, and what really blows them away -- the quality of the fans who support this tournament year after year.

“I’ve played umpteen times and this tournament amazes me every year,” said Couples.

“To have that many people watching 5 guys play is a lot of dedication and I think it’s the best two day charity event; they raise a lot of money on tour.”

And after being cajoled by the crowd around the 9th green to show off his signature Spiderman poise, Camilo Villegas couldn’t help but agree that Canadian fans are a unique breed.

“Like Fred said, the fans here are unbelievable. Same thing two years ago - Monday, Tuesday; you guys don’t work here in Canada on Monday, Tuesday? [lots of laughter] But it’s awesome – awesome to see everyone out here supporting the game, supporting us and supporting the charities.”

Meanwhile Retief, who lead with 5 skins and $75,000 after 9 holes, couldn’t say enough about the quality of the Bear Mountain layout.

“The golf course is in great shape; the greens are perfect here. When you start something on line, it goes in, unlike what happened last week.”

Mike Weir concurred, “I thought it was as Goose said - a very good mountain course. The greens were perfect and it was nice to see the ball roll so well."

"And for a new golf course, it is in tremendous condition; there are a lot of fun holes to play. I can see why people would want to come up here.”

This is the 5th time the TELUS Skins Game has been held in BC.

Whistler’s Nicklaus North hosted the event in 1997 and 2005.

Predator Ridge in Vernon welcomed it in 2000 and 2008.

And although no announcements have been made about where the next Skins will be played, look for it most likely to be on the east coast post-Bethesda next year.

And after the US Open at the Olympic Club near San Francisco in 2012, the obvious choice would be Predator Ridge’s newest 18 hole masterpiece, The Predator, that just opened for tee times on April 15th.
I can't wait!

Golfgal
ps: For those of you expecting a Big Break posting, check back with me later this week! 

If you're a Golf Tips Junkie

Recently a follower on Twitter commented that my bio should be in the world record books for "most mentions of the word 'golf'!"  Haha...they have a point I guess.  Here's how it goes..."I love playing golf, watching golf, writing about golf, reading about golf, travelling and reviewing golf courses. In my spare time, I’m a marketing consultant who wishes she was playing golf."

I think about golf all the time.  A total addict, I can't get enough of it.  I keep waiting for the love affair to wear off, but it doesn't.  My book shelf is full of golf books; and golf magazines can be found all over the house.

Luckily my golfguy loves the sport as much as I do.  But that's a good news/bad news thang.  Nothing is more infuriating than coming home to discover that the most recent GOLF magazine has just arrived that day and he got dibs on it.  And once he's got it, it's gone for the next 24 hours while he consumes the entire issue cover to cover.  

I currently subscribe to GOLF Magazine and Golf Digest and also enjoy a number of free magazines as well, including Golf Canada Magazine and InsideGolf (for whom I write on a regular basis).  While other golf addicts like me jump to equipment reviews when their favorite magazine hits their mailbox, my first stop is always the golf tips section.  GOLF Magazine, IMHO, has the best tips in their monthly "Private Lessons" at the back of every issue.  When I'm in a slump with any part of my game, it's not unusual for me to scour through old issues to find a tip that might resonate with my situation.

So you can imagine how excited I was to discover GOLF Magazine's Private Lessons, 2nd edition.  This book is chocked full of the "best of the best instruction" from GOLF Magazine over the years. 

The table of contents is organized so you can quickly find the area where you need the most help, starting with setup and address and ending with Faults and Fixes.  There's even a section on The Mental Game.  The illustrations are great as well. 

I recently had an issue with over slicing the ball with my irons (can't say the most dreaded word in golf outloud, but it rhymes with spank).  Anyway, lucky for me, page 292 contained the cure with a simple drill I could practice on the range.  Today, my irons are flying high and landing softly 80% of the time.  Occasionally, old habits creep in, but now I know the secret to getting back on track.

There are always 3 or 4 golf books next to my bed that come and go, but the only constant is Private Lessons.  Browsing through tips before turning out the lights, I've discovered some "ah ha" moments that make me want to jump up and start swinging.

I really do recommend this book if you love discovering new golf tips and tricks.  And if you're like me, it will become the "go to" book when it's too late at night to call your swing doctor. 

I have an extra copy that I'd like to share with one of you.  Whoever is first to post a comment with the right answer to this piece of US Open history wins their own copy.  I chose this question because I am a huge fan of European golfers and believe that the guys from across the pond are ready to win it again.  Hey, just look at Lee Westwood this past weekend - does he look ready to win the US Open? (On a side note, I really was hoping for Robert Garrigus at St Jude.   My heart went out to him this weekend.  I hope he bounces back and realizes that he already proved he's got game and can win on the PGA Tour.).

Anyway...back to my trivia question -- here's the skill testing question...

Since 1928, only one European-born golfer has won the U.S. Open. Who was the winner?

1.  Nick Faldo

2.  Tony Jacklin

3. Bernhard Langer

4. Peter Oosterhuis

So, go ahead and take a guess and let me know who you think it is.  You might be surprised.  I'll need your contact info, so please send it to me at golfgal [at] on-mark-it.com to claim your prize!

Golfgal

When life throws you a double bogey, remember what GOLF really means

My golfguy always says, “Life is easy. Golf is hard.” And with my game, I've never been able to dispute that.

But when I was struck down by the flu and a viral infection recently, I saw things in an even more depressing light -- Life became hard and golf, impossible.  Oh joy!

Being trapped inside a framework of festering fungus (I'm starting to sound like David Feherty), it was maddening that I couldn’t work on the computer or even read a book; the words became a jumble of letters my brain could not decipher (but hey... you gotta love those drugs! ;)).

So, the only thing left for me to do was stare at the boob tube. Thankfully with golf in high season, tournaments abounded on our PVR. And while I watched players hit shots I could only dream of, my mind started to replay some of my past golf adventures and made me realize that life really isn't hard - it's just too damn short!

So I decided that I would take the opportunity to do nothing, and instead of moan and groan, I would start to plan some future golf getaways I could enjoy with my golfguy, before I kicked the proverbial golf bucket.  I let my mind wander...

I recalled my golf buddy talking about her upcoming trip to Spain when I started watching the Madrid Masters and it made me want to get on a plane and fly to España.  I love so many of the Spanish golfers and so to golf in Spain where my heroes walk the links would be a dream come true for me.

I could almost picture myself strolling down a fairway in Malaga and smelling the faint whiff of Jimenez’s just lit cigar...
Or peaking around a dogleg to watch Sergio scissor-kick through the air to see where his ball may have landed after yet another miraculous shot from the trees (And, yes, I do believe Sergio will bounce back this year after his heartbreak of 2009 and ensuing depression – there’s just too much fire that flat belly!)...
Thinking of Spain made me recall Seve’s knee-weakening smile...
...and the boyish charm of powerhouse Alvaro ‘please pass me a razor’ Quiros.

Yes, the Spanish are a feisty lot -- not always appreciated by some, but I just love the passion they bring to the game and to life.

Spain has everything one could want in a golf vacation – championship courses, world class golfers, gorgeous weather and scrumptious wineries.  I can't imagine why it's taken me so long to visit there.

So as I lay in bed planning my retirement travels, I bookmarked a month out of the next 30 years to explore the links on Spain, throwing in some golf in Portugal for good measure. I haven’t picked all the courses that I will play, but I’ll give a lot of attention to the ones chosen for professional events like the 6 courses on the European Tour this year and, of course, I can’t forget Valderrama – host to the 1997 Ryder Cup, where Jimenez first tasted RC action as one of Seve’s vice captains.

Speaking of Ryder Cups, watching the RC-wannabes flock to Wales for this week’s Wales Open has been fun. It brought back memories of a press conference I attended last year at Sahalee, where they announced the 2010 US Senior Men’s Open (I can't wait to attend that major in July).

At lunch I had the honor to share a table with of some of the founders of Sahalee Country Club and Ken Still - a 3-time PGA winner and 1969 Ryder Cup player who was full of zest and stories for his captivated audience. I had to ask him how he felt about playing the Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale in 1969.

“Biggest thrill I ever had was playing the Ryder Cup. The whole experience – the whole week was hard to describe….majestic! I remember my first tee shot. Trevino and I were partners. When they called, ‘Team USA, fire away please!’, I said to Lee, ‘I think I’m going to whiff it.’ And do you know what he said? He said, ‘Whiff the son of a bitch and let’s get out of here!’ So I hit the ball and it went 280 yards right down the middle.”

Haha! Sitting there listening to Ken, it felt like it was just yesterday for him. So, then I asked him what he thought of today’s Ryder Cups versus those in his day. Did he like the rambunctious nature of today’s matches and crowds? Well, I'm happy to report that he just loves it!  It was great to hear him share his enthusiasm of Boo Weekly’s giddy-up at Valhalla. But, I was surprised to hear him say he thinks Wales will be even more raucous and noisy.  Now I wish I had tickets :-(.

Ken was 74 years old at the time we met and was still loving teaching golf. He had 6 lessons already lined up for the next day. I sure hope I’m full of his vim and vigor when I’m his age. Heck, I’d like to have it today!

I’m just about ready to keel over from being awake for more than 4 hours, but before I go, I want to share with you something I learned at a weekend golf getaway I attended recently with 20+ other golfgals. GOLF =

Gratitude Opportunity Learning Fun

So, although I whine and moan about how unfair it is to be sick during peak golf season, I really am grateful to have the opportunity to learn this wonderful sport and have fun doing it with my golfguy and all my golfgal buddies. I just like to rant and rave sometimes. Hey, maybe there is a little Sergio or Seve in me after all ;)

Ole!
Golfgal