Cheers to The Dinah!
A Goodbye…..A Hello…..
On the eve of the final round of the @LPGA ‘s first Major of the season at @MissionhillsCC1 I as many I’m sure feel a heaviness with this being the last time at The Dinah. The first to take the historic leap into Poppy’s Pond was Amy Alcott in 1988. Who will be the last in 2022? One more day to go to finish writing such a rich history!
Dinah Shore was a huge supporter of women’s golf and this tourney started when the opportunity was presented to her and thus, why it was called The Dinah Shore and the course designed by Desmond Muirhead also bears her name. She brought big name celebrities to help support this women’s golf tournament like Frank Sinatra and even got Arnold Palmer to help with a video advertising the tourney.
From the first Colgate-Dinah Shore in 1972 to 1983 when it became a major for the @lpga, it cemented a place in history. Though name changes and sponsors changed in the past several years and missing fan attendance for 2 yrs due to the pandemic; it will remain The Dinah to most. We lost a great individual in Dinah Shore when she passed in 1994. She was a lady that believed in getting things done and the @lpga owes her a tremendous gratitude. The @LPGA ‘s own Judy Rankin won in 1976 and has told stories this week about knowing Dinah Shore, while in the booth. It is certainly a bittersweet week from the consensus of those who’ve had the chance to speak about what this final tournament on what I will call hallowed grounds, means to them.
The Colgate-Dinah Shore, The Kraft Nabisco, The ANA Inspiration or The Chevron, it became a gathering place for golf fans from all over the world. The friendships I made from attending when it was the Kraft Nabisco Championship and after will remain with me forever. And it’s not the end because Palm Springs, CA is a great place to meet up with friends, enjoy the plethora of golf courses, casinos and the quaint downtown area.
There’s something so special about the bronze statue of Dinah at the 18th green before walking over the bridge to the green. Dinah is there to say “it’s been a great round, til next time”. From the first moment stepping onto the lush surroundings of @missionhillscc1, it just feels special. That may sound cliche to some but it’s true. It would be great to see every player take a moment when they come up to the 18th green and tap on the bronze statue of Dinah. A tribute to someone that made a mark for women’s golf!
So for those players and fans that walk the grounds tomorrow, take a second to remember the beauty of the mountains meeting the sky, the golf course’s brilliant colors and the place that will forever be in the hearts of many…..
[I hope you’ll enjoy a few photos through the years]
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