Big Break Dominican Republic: 12 past contestants get a big mulligan

Only a few more days for Big Break Domincan Republic and I can already hear the buzz in golf cyberspace.  Not only does this show bring together the most "memorable" contestants we've seen over the past few years, it is a whole different ballgame.

Apparently, this is a men against the women competition without elimination every week.  The Big Break Champion will be the MVP of the winning team.  Hmmm...wonder what that means?  How will they choose the MVP?  There must be a point system.  Given the highly visible anomosity between players from previous Big Break's I can't imagine the choice coming down to a "vote" within the winning team's ranks.  Hey...maybe the losing team should vote on who is the MVP of the winning team.  Now that would be interesting!

During Big Break Sandals, I met someone who took a real interest in the show and shared some great insights and opinions on my blog.  I am happy to say that Bluefalcon from NYC is back with his thoughts on the new show and the contestants. (And remember, these are his thoughts, not necessarily mine ;)).

Clearly, the producers of "BB" felt that the lack of on-camera drama during "BBSR" was a negative. So when casting the "Big Break Dominican Republic" series, they clearly went after polarizing personalities who were guaranteed to come into conflict. And boy, did they succeed!

Since I didn't watch "Big Break Mesquite" or "Big Break Disney Golf"-I never watch the all-male BB's-I'm not familiar with Blake Moore or Anthony Rodriquez. I live in New York City, so I'm more familiar with Andrew Giuliani's father, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, than I am with Andrew, so I really can't talk about those guys. However, I can talk about the other cast members.

David Mobley-Big Break X-Michigan. David reminds me of Fred Flintstone, down to the same caveman mentality. A competitor in long-drive competitions, David isn't as good an all-around golfer as he likes to think he is. However, he is annoying enough to distract the others enough to get them thinking about him and not about their game. That may be the only way he survives long for this game.

Brian Skatell-Big Break Prince Edward Island. Brian's a hard person for me to figure. Is he comic relief, or does he really think he's Jack, Arnold and Tiger all rolled into one? If it's the latter, he's clearly deluding himself. I don't think Brian's as confident as he wants everyone to think he is, and that lack of confidence may end up being his downfall.

William "Football" Thompson-BBPEI. My favourite among the men. My concern with Football: is he too nice to win this competition? Most of the winners of this series have had a little bit of scumbag to them, the notable exceptions being Haymes Snedeker and Bernadette Luse, who won BBX-Michigan. They were two of the nicest people ever on the show, but also a bit of an anamoly. Football has the game to play the challenges; does he have the mental game to swim with these sharks? Football is going to need a bigger boat to survive BBDR.

Lori Atsedes-Big Break Ka'annapali. The most disliked female ever on the show, and not just by me. What she did to Christina Lecuyer on her season ranks as one of the most disgraceful things ever done on this show. While Christina's actions-rooting openly for her competitors to fail were disrepectful and inappropriate-the way Lori and her fellow pitchfork and torch carrying witches Sophie Sandolo and Kim Welch treated Christina was even more deplorable. And then, Lori had the gall to act as if Christina was wrong for choosing not to kiss Lori's [insert three letter verb here]. I get the sense that Lori dislikes anyone who is younger and better looking than she is-which is just about everyone on this show-and I fully expect her to be up to her tricks again with this group. However, she will find that these ladies aren't quite as breakable as Christina was.

Sara Brown-BBSR. One of my early favourites to take the title of his series. Sara clearly has the game and the motivation after finishing third on BBSR. My only concern with her is the fact that there wasn't a long layoff between BBSR and this season. Can she mentally and physically gather herself for another run at a Big Break title? If she can, she might be unstoppable.

Christina Lecuyer-BBK. Hopefully, Christina has learned a little humility since her last BB appearance. The golf skills are there. Are the people skills? I can't imagine what she was thinking when she saw her tormentor Lori was in the cast as well. Christina can't let Lori get to her the way she did at Ka'annapali.

Brenda McLarnon-BBPEI. Brenda, like David, is very mouthy. I don't think Brenda is anywhere near as obnoxious as David can be, however. Brenda is not the longest player in the group, so she will have to rely on her short game and putter to pull her through. One adavantage that Brenda will have-which is shared by David, Brian, Football and Blair-is that they have played unisex Big Break series whereas the others haven't. How much, if any, advantage that is remains to be seen.

Blair O'Neal-BBPEI. Blair was seriously underestimated on BBPEI because she looks like a bikini model-which she is sometimes-but she won't be here after going to the final of PEI before losing to Derek Gillespie. Blair is another one of my favourites to take it all. She's definitely got the skills to pay da bills and she also won't lack for motivation.

Elena Robles-BBSR. The bombshell of BBSR returns for a shot at redemption. The key for Elena here is to fight off the inevitable Lori attack and to have a better frame of mind than she did on BBSR-on the first episode, Elena was unhappy with her room arrangment. I think that did affect her more than it should have. If Elena can keep her focus on her golf game-which is considerable-and less on other things she could be a serious dark horse to win it all.

Bottom line, even without a Battle of the Sexes, BBDR is bound with this mix of personalities, to be full of drama. It should be fun.

Thanks so much Bluefalcon! I appreciate your analysis a lot. Can't agree with all your opinions regarding the contestants, but I do support your right to share what you think and so happy you chose to share your thoughts here.  :)

I am excited about this reunion show and its new format. It's a second chance for the players and I hope everyone watching the show has amnesia about their past transgressions and gives all the contestants a 2nd chance to win their respect and support.

Golfgal

Private Golf Clubs Need a Dress Code Wake Up Call

Last week I came home to find that my Golf Digest magazine had arrived – time for me and my golfguy to play tug of war to see who can read it first. For the first time in many months, I won the battle and immediately sat down to figure out ‘why I can’t putt’. Seems putting is the theme of this month’s issue. But before I could get to that, I stumbled on the letter from the editor on the “The Case for Change at Private Clubs.”

I agreed with most of what he said about private clubs needing to get into the 21st century. And that got me thinking about this year’s CN Women’s Open and how most of the women on that tour would never be allowed to play at most private clubs in North America. They couldn’t get past the dress code police.

To give you a perspective in this, check out the dress code policy at St. Charles Country Club, the home of this year’s CN Women’s Open…

LADIES/GIRLS – Golf shirts, with collars or sleeves, slacks, pants and shorts with pockets sewn closely to garment, sweaters, jackets, skirts, and rain suits. Shorts, skirts and skorts must be of conservative length being no shorter than mid thigh. Golf shirts must be worn inside the waist unless tailored to be worn outside the waist.

I spoke to one of the St. Charles board members about their dress code and was happy to hear that their BOD is very aware they need to change and are surveying their members on what they’d like to see. He did say, however, that it wasn’t all that long ago that the women members had to kneel in front of the Starter prior to their round to prove their shorts were the proper length. Oh my!

Now check out these outfits and tell me if you think they’d pass muster…

Michelle Wie comes up short.

Anna Rawson wouldn’t pass the kneeling test either…

Ai Miyazato would be asked to tuck it in…

Canada’s Big Breaker, Seema “Vegas” Sadekar’s bling wouldn’t be welcome…

And of course, Christina Kim just might be walked to the door or asked to change hats…

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love what all these ladies are wearing.  Each one brings her own style to the game of golf and it's fun, fashionable, flirty and sometimes funky. And although I’m not a big fan of tummy tanning while swinging, I do think it’s time for private clubs to take a look at what’s happening outside of their garden walls and realize that the times, they are a changing.

When looking at the average age at many private clubs,you'd probably think you're looking at retirement homes, not sports clubs.

And most young people aren’t interested in joining fuddy duddy clubs where their parents and grandparents hang out. And for good reason – they don’t feel welcome.

I decided to browse around and see what dress codes were like at other clubs in Canada and the US. I was not surprised to learn that many still ban the following:
• Anything denim
• Tank or halter tops
• Caps and clothing with commercial logos not related to golf or tennis
• Un-tucked shirts
• Cargo pants or shorts
• Shorts, skirts, and dresses more than X inches above the knee (where X = 4”, 6” or 8”). At Oakmont country club where the LPGA played this year’s US Open, it’s only 1 inch.
• Hats worn backwards

• Bandannas or headbands (Sorry Kim Welch and Pelle Edberg!)
• Socks more than 2” above the shoe (unless they are knee socks)
• Golf sandals

What kills me about these rules is that the pro shops are selling the same clothing and shoes that they ban on their own courses. My girlfriend bought 3 pairs of shorts at her club’s pro shop this summer, only to discover that she wasn’t allowed to wear them 10 feet outside the change room.

Another woman who was a guest of one of the golf pros at a private club in town, was wearing shorts the Starter didn’t think were appropriate. The golf pro thought the guest’s outfit was perfectly acceptable and said so. But the Starter wouldn’t let them play unless the woman put on a pair of men’s black rain pants that they pulled out of the lost and found. It was 90+ degrees outside and she was expected to wear black rain pants previously worn by a much larger man. Eeeew! Needless to say, the guest took a pass on playing. I don’t blame her.

I know we’ve come a long way in golf in some respects (women can play at most private courses if they’re willing to play in non-prime time) and I haven’t seen anyone kneel in front of a Starter in the past few years. But there’s no question...we’ve still got a long way to go.

This week I was asked to join the membership committee at our club. I thought the timing was quite coincidental, given my recent grumblings around membership rules and regulations. Although I have no idea where I’ll get the time for this, I decided I had to join. I can’t just keep ranting and raving about issues like this. It’s time for me to put my time and effort where my mouth is. Wish me luck!

Golfgal

Try a little trash and cash to make golf fun

Recently I played golf with a nice young woman from our club who I'd never met. She loved the game, but she only played for fun. She didn't even keep score; she enjoyed the outdoors, scenery and company of friends more than the sport.

At the beginning of the round, she asked me if I ever did any golf betting. I mentioned that my golfguy and I would play match play from time to time, but we never could figure out what to play for. She told me that she and her partner always played for ice cream, but that she had to give that up because she was gaining too much weight. Haha…

That was the beginning of one of the most relaxing 9 holes of golf for me in a long time. I was sad to see her pack it in at the turn, but it was starting to rain, so I could certainly understand why she hit the clubhouse early.

I have been working hard at lowering my handicap this year – I'm at the gym 4 days a week (one of which is with a personal trainer), I take weekly golf lessons, I practice at least twice a week on the range and I've been reading all the best golf books, like Pia Nilsson, Lynn Marriott's, “Every Shot Must Have a Purpose”.

But playing with Grace (even her name is peaceful), I realized that I was starting to take this "game" too seriously. Golf may be a sport, but it is still a game that is supposed to be fun. So the last 9 holes I put on my rain gear, propped up my umbrella and scored my best round of the season. We were so soaked at the end of 18 (we finished in the dark too) that it took 3 days to dry out my water logged bag.

On the drive home I started thinking about other wonderful golf experiences I’ve had and the one that popped into my head first was playing Chambers Bay last year with two golf guys who really knew how to have a good time.

It was a beautiful, hot summer day and we were excited to be golfing the 2015 home of the US Open. We thought we’d be playing some pretty serious golf given the venue and the cost, but we couldn’t have been more wrong. We ended up having two talented, but fun-loving caddies (mine looked just like Fluff)

and some pretty outrageous company (two “players”, David and Erik who took golf betting and trash talking to a whole new level).

From the first hole where the “boys” sauntered up late with Bloody Marys in hand, to the last, we witnessed some amazing golf shots and even more amazing “shots at one other”.

On the first par 3, they were already tired of betting against each other, so they made their caddies play and bet on them. It was too funny.

By the 10th hole, David decided he needed to bring me and my golfguy into the “game” and so on my backswing he yelled out, “Hey Gayle, is your shirt un-tucked?” I could not believe it.  Frankly, I was shocked.

But  I stepped back, nervously laughed and tried to recover myself. I ended up hitting a pretty decent ball -- the longest off the tee and in the fairway (David was in the crap). So my Fluff (Ed) called out to David, “Hey Dave, I didn’t want to say anything, but…didn’t you talk to her on her drive there?” David lied, “No!” and told Ed to stop that [trash talking].

The next hole, the same thing happened; David yelled out during my backswing. But this time, I wasn’t so composed afterward and proceeded to duck hook my ball into the fescue. David’s buddy, Erik came over to apologize. After all, we were complete strangers; he had no idea how I would react. But I assured him, I would get my revenge.

I didn’t have to wait long. It was the 12th hole and the money on the fairway between the boys was in the hundreds of dollars. David was down in the winnings and looking pretty darn serious. So he stepped up to his ball, did his little waggle and during his back swing I yelled out, “Hey David, is your fly down?” which received a raving ovation from the crowd. Even David broke up laughing.

From that moment on, we were all trash talking each other, including our caddies and bets were becoming more outrageous with every hole. It was one of the most fun rounds of golf I have ever played.

I haven’t golfed since my round with Grace last weekend, but the memory of that day and Chambers Bay has been with me all week. I hope to carry the same feeling of playfulness into next weekend where we’ll be golfing at two of the most spectacular courses BC has to offer – Sagebrush and Tobiano. I’ve already decided that we’re going to play for “something” and bring more fun into our two rounds.  And I wouldn't be surprised if that introduces a little trash into our games as well.  I can't wait!

But the big question is...what should we play for? I hope my golfguy picks ice cream. I'm going for a new 3-wood.

Golfgal