Cheers to The Dinah!

 

                                                     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]

    

Hats off to PGA and it's players for little Emma Grace Bennett trust being established...

As most of you know, Matt Kuchar's caddy is Lance Bennett.

Last wednesday, Lance's wife Angela passed away. Lance and Angela have a 4 y.o. daughter Emma Grace. Angela is reported to have had epilepsy and had suffered a very severe seizure last Tuesday, when Lance flew directly home to be by her side. GOD had a different plan and sadly, Angela passed Wednesday morning.

Services for Angela are being held today.

This past week in the locker room of TPC Boston, an idea came to fruition on players establishing a trust fund for the well being and education of little Emma Grace. Players were/are able to donate to the fund directly from their earnings at the Deutsche Bank and BMW Championship.

Many players sported black caps with a ribbon as a tribute to Angela and in solidarity of support for Lance and their families.

I cannot imagine the pain that Lance, Emma and their respective families are facing. There are no words that ease the pain nor stop the tears. I only pray that they feel the love and support of everyone.
It is apparent that little Emma Grace has likely gained a whole lot of "uncles" from the PGA Tour!  

Many prayers to Lance & Emma Grace and GODspeed Angela!

TPC @ Deere Run -John Deere Classic

That's right, from the Tee Box markers to the Volunteer uniforms, it's time for JOHN DEERE GREEN to hit the QC once again! The course is designed by DA Weibring, who is a 3 time winner of this tournament and an Illinois native. This week's Tournament has another list of fantastic players; with 10 of them being in the Top 50. We've had the exciting Stricker Slam, 2009, 2010 & 2011! In 2012, Zach Johnson took honors and hoisted the trophy for a tournament that was watched by his family and friends from his nearby Iowa hometown of Cedar Rapids. This coming week will decide if he will take back to back wins and follow in Steve Stricker's footsteps. Steve knows and loves the courses and plays it well. Don't count Steve out, to take back the reigns. Check out Media Day interviews here; Player Interviews .  Via this link Parade of Champions , you can check out the past winners since 1971.

One of the greatest things that the John Deere Classic can boast about, is the Birdies for Charity. Last year's Birdies for Charity raised 6.79 Million!
In it's history, the program has raised over $49.8 Million since it's birth in 1988. Non profit 501 (C)(3) organizations sign up to take part in this amazing Charity program. To say it does amazing things, would be an understatement. 

While the Field List has had some great names added, more recent ones as Keegan Bradley, Trevor Immelman, Lucas Glover have also committed. A big presence that will not be at this year's JD Classic is Big John Daly, who had to withdraw from the Greenbriar Classic after his 2nd round with an elbow injury that flared up after hitting a shot and connecting with tree roots. He has stated he will have surgery next week and miss 3-4 months of golf. We wish Big John well and a speedy recovery. 

Another great feature that the Joh Deere Classic (TPC @ Deere Run) has returning again this year, is their App.  You can check it out and download it via this link John Deere Classic . As always, you can follow along via the PGA Tour via PGATOUR.COM . 

A benefit for most players is the fact that the Tournament offers space on 2 charters for direct flight to the British Open following Sunday's Final Round. This has enabled many players to come play the Tournament when they reserve a seat, instead of having to miss it due to travel to the British Open. It's just one more reason that makes this Tournament such a great event! 

And, there's still time to grab tickets via this link,  Tickets . 

And, as a Thank You to all of the active Military Men & Women; they will receive free admission with their CAC card Thursday through Sunday along with one guest.  

From the 385 acre parcel of land that was first home to American Native Settlements that lived on this very land for as far back as 5,000 years, the views are spectacular. With the good 'ol Mississippi River in view for a few of the holes and the stone house still standing, the most storied hole is #16, which is named "Mother Earth" for it's rich history. The app allows a look at every hole, so don't forget to download it and keep track of all the stats this week! There's no reason not to have a great time at this tourney! 


With the MetLife Blimp already in town and cruising by the Golf Course lastnight , I'm sure it got a glimpse of a dimple or two. 

It was a gorgeous evening with temperatures in the mid 80's and not a drop of rain. Weather however, will be questionable for the tourney next week, with temps in the 90's accompanied by high humidity.







The City hosting TPC @ Deere Run contracted the painting of their water tower to look like a golf ball on a tee. The dimples started going on yesterday. Silvis is the proud home of the John Deere Classic and they've found a way to show it.... 






Now, Go Hit Some Balls....................

The Ides of March.....

In honor of St. Patrick's Day weekend, I will contribute to the affair with green font today. Most people have already started their partying and parades, etc. The dandy of all hangovers is likely to be upon them when they rise tomorrow. And yes, I say tomorrow without giving any time because most will not get upright until the afternoon hours. Good Luck to those participating in the Celebrations of the Irish tradition. I received the Irish Blessing via email from an Irish friend today. It was a great surprise and I love the Blessing! Cheers to all of my Irish friends out there, you're a great bunch! Oh, and I just love the accent! 

Onto other tidbits.....

Recovery from my recent neck surgery has gone well. As most of you know, this was a result of an accident I was in during 2012. I had a discectomy & one level fusion. I have full motion due to this being a lower vertebrae. I am very fortunate. I only have issues with the swelling inside the neck. The doc says it's more than usual however, I do have what he called a "very slender neck". If that were to go away, I'd be thrilled.  I am ready to hit the course as soon as weather permits, meaning it really needs to warm up! 

Golf stories........
I am living vicariously through some of my friends on twitter and of course following along the tours. This topic brings to mind a certain LPGA golfer who 
who made a phenomenal transformation prior to the 2013 season starting. That would be the one and only Karen Stupples. She looks like a completely different lady out there! Her dedication and perseverance have delivered Stups 2.0 
You can check her out via her website at KStupples.com She has a blog there, which she updates regularly. I wish for many good things for Karen this year on the course! 

Another aspect regarding Golf, is that sometimes those on the biggest stage do not feel that they can be themselves or let any faults or troubles be known. The last I checked, we are all human and I know that so are those on Tour whether man or woman! When I think of this next lady, I think of a infectious smile, someone bright and funny and a brave one at that. When I hear the name Christina Kim, I think of a great assest to ladies professional golf. She has been on returning Solheim Cups and was a tremendous cheerleader for team USA when not playing. How one could not feel the excitement around her, is beyond me! As most of you know, she has went public with her struggles of depression. Is she the first on a a golf tour with this illness, absolutely NOT! Most people are afraid to admit an illness like depression. I hope that with more people like Christina who disclose this, that more will follow suit and help this illness be received well and get the added support it too deserves. An illness is an illness! And no illness, no matter what it be; should be hidden or make someone feel that they must hide it. She is one of the very first LPGA golfers I have had the joy to meet and I look forward to seeing her play again, without the weight of the world on her shoulders! 

Next on my list of topics to touch on, are the "anchored" putters....
Yes, simply reading that can make opinions flare. While there are those that seem to think that they are simply as fair to use as the normal standard putter that the game of GOLF was founded on. The key here, is that they are anchored! The game of GOLF was not founded upon "anchoring" anything to your body and should not be allowed in professional tournaments today, period!  Hellooooo people, do you see an issue here? I find it a bit surprising that players using them now on a regular basis, are still not practicing and/or using  the standard putter that they learned the game with. 

I for one can say that I'm glad to see the 2013 Golf Tours in full swing! I love seeing Tiger regularly contending and winning again. And while many will speak their displeasure, I have learned that unless you're perfect, one should never judge another! The fact is and will always be, that he is the best golfer to ever play the game. Arnie and Jack state such and well, are you gonna argue with those two? The fact is that we ALL have faults. We all have skeletons in our closets. We ALL are far from perfect and will each face our own Judgement Day. So, lets all for the sake of a great sport, be more thoughtful and kind in what you say about other golfers, whether that is via twitter or other modes of media.  Like many of our Mothers and GrandMothers have taught us, "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all". 

The men are in the Florida Swing and the ladies are in Phoenix Arizona for the FoundersCup. By the way, I loved the interview that David Feherty did with Lee Westwood this past week which aired. Lee had 3 years where he did not win a single tournament and he has come back to win tourneys again and contend and place in the top 10 and more often top 5. Never count anyone out, not even yourself! Speaking of tours, the LPGA is on Golf Channel right now, so I must wrap it up!

Lastly, for the EA Sports Tiger Woods 14 which will be out March 26th, there is the long overdue LPGA Tour Mode! Progress my friends, slow but surely there is progress! 

Until my next blog, be thoughtful and be kind to yourself and others!

Now, GO HIT SOME BALLS.............

Welcome to 2013.......

As we all may have took today to lay back and watch some College Football Bowl games, it's a New Year! While I was one of those partaking in the "couch potato" role today, I couldn't help but think of how quickly 2012 went by! 

Tiger Woods was back golfing and winning, Whitney Houston passed away, and Barack Obama won re-election just to name a few moments. While some make New Year's  Resolutions, other refrain from doing so to avoid the disappointment when they aren't able to keep them. Let's face it, most who vow to get healthy and join a gym, make it 2-3 weeks before allowing excuses to keep them from it. While I myself do not make resolutions per se, I try to think of things that need more attention in my life and I simply try to improve on the priorities that I have in my life currently. 

A not so good time in this past year was the MVA in late April, when I was so very lucky to survive without being ejected. And while I do have some lingering knee, back and neck injuries that kept me from golfing most of this past season, they are minor compared to what so many have faced in 2012. 

Particularly, the shooting in NewTown, Connecticut. The news of those innocent little lives taken, was a sickening feeling and was devastating to so many. How families find the resolve to move forward, takes a strength that can only come from a strong faith. And, then there was  hurricane Sandy that hit New Jersey and completely devastated homes as well as the well-known Boardwalk and left the dead behind the destruction. Shootings are becoming all too common, at malls, churches and schools. The tragedies come in many different forms, but they still continue to come. Will we ever be able to prevent tragedies, no. 

The truth of it is, there will always be events both good and bad in our lives. It will not be those moments that define who we are; it will be how we handle those moments that matter. When we come together and help others in need, the reward we feel and receive internally, makes it worth it. 

So, the next time you see a homeless person, extend a smile and a gift if able. If you see a stray pet, take the time to call your local animal control or safely capture it and take to the local shelter yourself so that it will have protection, food and water. Pay the bill at the grocery store, for an elderly person that may be limited with social security. Hold a door for a stranger. Thank the next military person you see. The point is,  it really doesn't take too much time to do a selfless act of kindness, but many just don't do it. I think we can all learn to be better persons this year. After all, we're here on earth for a limited time and we can only hope that we will handle the "moments" of 2013 with grace, dignity and compassion.  And when faced with moments that could make us doubt our strength, I remind myself of one of my favorite scriptures: "I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength" Phillipians 4:13.

In 2013, I wish you all a year of good health and prosperity. I wish you love and happiness. I wish you smiles and laughter. I wish you the best that 2013 has to offer! Happy New Year & many Blessings!

Now, Go Hit Some Balls...........

LG2

Congrats to ALL of the OLYMPIANS!

 The question now, is what do I watch in the evenings? I personally enjoyed everyday of the Olympics. I watched it every evening until it ended at 11 pm. The closing ceremony was awesome! London outdid itself with these games for sure! The only thing better, would have been to be there in person.

What made it great, were Athletes like Michael Phelps, who is now the most decorated Olympian in History. Then there is Missy Franklin who is now faced with turning pro or continuing with College plans.  Or, Ryan Lochte who is a known for doing his own thing, such as putting in his "grill" after stepping down off the podium or the women who chase him.


What can be said is that London did a fantastic job at putting on the 2012 Summer Olympics and then closed with a truly phenomenal Closing Ceremony! I don't know what I liked best, there's just that much to choose from.

While I am not sure why synchronized floor dancing or with hoops, etc. is in the Olympics and the great American sport of softball is not; I hope that will be changed before 2016 in Rio de Janero! Seriously, the committee who took out one of americas favorite pastimes to have some more than questionable "sports" is quite disturbing to me. Baseball and Softball have been around longer than any of the other "sport". The many young girls and women who go through their school years and play in college and the world series of Softball and onto Pro Fastpitch teams DESERVE to be back in the Olympics. There, that's my ranting for this post.

While I remain amazed at the accomplishments of the athletes participating,  I would be remiss not to mention all of the behind the scenes security, police, etc that did their jobs emphatically so that there was a safe atmosphere and so that there were no terrible events to mar the games! So to all of them, I say Thank You! Thank You for keeping all of the athletes safe and all of the fans that filled the venues!

To the athletes that participated and may not have claimed a medal, YOU are all amazing and you made it and participated in the Olympics! Be proud, you helped make the Olympic Games what they were! You are all winners in my book!

To the athletes that won Medals, CONGRATS on your accomplishments! You have been part of history and part of Sports biggest platform. To say you are the elite of the athletes would be short siding you. Your dedication to your sport and your will to win, has formed you to not only be a medal winner but to be a person that will inspire others and especially our Youth of today, to keep striving to reach their dreams! Thank You for being the best of the best but also for being humble; you have shown the Spirit of The Heart!

I have to say that two of my favorite Athletes are Missy Franklin and Michael Phelps. Michael who won another 6 medals to bring his total to 19 in his Olympic Career and then Missy who has won 5 medals (4 GOLD) in London. While Michael will pursue other goals and dreams outside of swimming, he will always strive to be the best at what he does. He will be on an upcoming series with Hank Haney, to help his game of golf.
Missy, who has College in 2013 to consider is also faced with the decision of turning pro and not playing collegiately. At 17 yrs old, the world is her oyster right now. Hailing from Colorado, she is a grounded young woman and has made herself a pop star of sorts with her "Call me Maybe" video she arranged with the USA swim team. Here's a clip that a fan put together with that song and clips of Missy....... Link to YouTube tribute  One thing is for sure, Missy's smile will be seen for a long time after the Olympics!

Thank You LONDON!

Rory Gets his WIN!

A big CONGRATS to Rory McIlroy at age 23, has won the PGA Championship! And yes, this catapulted Rors back into the World Number 1 spot once again. He is 2nd in the FedEx Cup standings just behind Tiger Woods, who has held the spot for two consecutive weeks.

This young Gent is not only rich in money terms but remains rich in his strong family ties that certainly keep him grounded. Born in Holywood, Northern Ireland, he still calls this home. Tears come to my eyes when I see him hug his Dad after a win.

Longtime girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki continues through a bit of a slump in her respective sport of Tennis. For a brief time last year, they were both #1 in their sports, but that wasn't to last like their relationship has. In fact, critics claimed his high profile relationship with the Danish tennis star was causing him to lose focus of his golf game. He was never more happy to have proved those critics wrong with his win at Sunday's PGA Championship! Everyone is always looking at something to blame a slump on but hey; you're just not "on" all the time. If that were the case, there would always be the same winner week after week after week.

Just under the $5 million mark for 2012 thus far and over $10 million to date career earnings, he is a competitor to be reckoned with! Rory won Sunday's PGA Championship by 8 strokes, yes I said 8 strokes! This is Rory's 2nd win on the PGA Tour this year after his first came at The Honda Classic back in March. He was in a Playoff at the Wells Fargo in May and in between all of this had 3 missed cuts.  Finishing in a tie for 5th at the Bridgestone-Invitational, he fired two rounds of 67!

A popular Lad to say the least, with 1,204.966 followers on Twitter! You can follow him if you're not already, via @McIlroyRory . He also has accounts on WhoSay, Tencent & Facebook.

So, Congrats Rors......keep up doing your own thing!


Now, Go Hit Some Balls...............