By BRUCE MEADOWS
DECEMBER 2023
What does your golfer need???
It’s that time of year when many of you try to figure out what to get that golfer in your life for Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate.
What about new clubs, golf shoes, a practice putting green, golf gloves, golf lessons, an annual membership?
There is no shortage of equipment and gimmicks . . . in stores or online.
I deal with that issue every year, and because I work at Fairgrounds Golf Course, I usually have a variety of options and ideas.
But I got to thinking . . . what might I give to a golfing friend or relative this year that he or she may need but has never received?
If I was in a position to do so, I think I would give the gift of patience.
Golf if a challenging game, more for some than others. You may play well one day and not so good the next. You may play well on one hole then crash and burn the next hole.
I wish golfers – myself included – would learn to deal with it. Not every shot is perfect, not to mention every lie. And a lot of people will tell you that one bad hole can carry over — if you keep thinking about it.
That triple bogey on the last hole? Nothing you can do about it . . . unless you erase it on the scorecard, it’s history.
I would also offer the gift of reality. Honestly, you may be playing as well right now as you ever will, despite what teaching pros tell you. Lessons can indeed help, but probably not as much as you wish.
You might improve in small increments, but maybe, for lots of reasons, you are destined to be a 20 handicap or whatever. That’s OK.
That being the case, enjoy the game you’re playing. Occasionally you might surprise yourself with a great round, but the reality is that the next time you play after that, you are back to where you were. That’s OK, too.
Don’t worry about it. Enjoy the game, the weather (when it’s nice), your playing partners, the exercise (if you walk instead of taking a cart). The world will not end if you shoot a bad score. Life will go on. There are many more important things that should concern you.
I was a pretty good player years ago, but now I am much more inconsistent . . and realistic. And I have learned to accept that fact, and still have a good time . . . I don’t beat myself up anymore.
Golf can be a lot of fun, or it can be agonizing for all sorts of reasons. Decide what works for you and enjoy your decision.
Women make a difference . . .
Essential Golf Magazine recently published an article celebrating what women have meant to the game of golf.
There are some impressive names listed, some of whom I have had the pleasure of interviewing as a sports writer over the years.
The published list is below, but I would like to ask golfers of Sonoma County and the surrounding area, if you were to compile your own list of women golfers who have made a difference in our neighborhood, what names would you include?
I have a few names of my own, which I will share in the next GOLF 707, but if you want to offer your own suggestions, please do so, and email them to me at bmeadows4sports@aol.com
TEN OF THE ALL-TIME MOST INFLUENTIAL FEMALE GOLFERS
(Compiled by Essential Golf Magazine)
Laura Davies
In the 1980s, Davies made her professional debut and swiftly rose to the top of the women’s golf rankings. She has won a total of 20 LPGA Tour events, including four major titles. She has also had success on the Ladies European Tour. But beyond her victories and honors, Davies inspired a generation of female golfers, shattering stereotypes and proving that there are no gender restrictions for success in the game.
Kathy Whitworth
Kathy Whitworth is a pioneer in the world of professional golf, and she is one of the most accomplished and well-known female golfers in the history of the game. Whitworth’s impressive resume includes 88 LPGA Tour victories and six major titles. On the course, she stood out for her consistency, accuracy, and calm demeanor. Whitworth’s sportsmanship and commitment to advancing the game of golf has created an enduring legacy, motivating numerous women to follow their goals in the sport and cementing her status as one of golf’s all-time greats.
Babe Zaharias
Mildred Ella “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias was a sporting legend in her own right. She was not just a golfing prodigy but excelled in other sports, such as track & field and basketball. Zaharias won 41 LPGA Tour tournaments, including ten major titles. Her domination in the 1940s and 1950s helped form the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and brought women’s golf to prominence.
Se Ri Pak
Se Ri Pak, a pioneering South Korean golfer, made a big splash in the late 1990s when she won the 1998 U.S. Women’s Open in her rookie year. With her historic victory, she became a dominant force in women’s golf and helped South Korea become a significant golfing nation. Pak finished her career with 25 LPGA Tour victories and five major events. She helped opened the door for the inflow of successful South Korean golfers into the international arena.
Nancy Lopez
Nancy Lopez, a legendary personality in golf, rose to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She has 48 LPGA Tour victories and three major titles to her credit. Lopez’s fascinating personality and remarkable on-course talent attracted her to fans worldwide, considerably increasing the popularity of women’s golf during her period.
Annika Sorenstam
Swedish golfer Annika Sörenstam revolutionized the game with her outstanding play in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She took home 72 LPGA Tour victories, including ten major titles. Thanks to her excellent consistency and competitive passion, Sörenstam played in a men’s PGA TOUR tournament for the first time in 58 years since Babe Zaharias.
Karrie Webb
Australian Karrie Webb left an indelible mark on the golf world in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Webb demonstrated her exceptional talent and competitive attitude with 41 LPGA Tour victories, including seven major titles. Her accomplishments aided in introducing a more global viewpoint to the LPGA and inspired players from many nations to compete at the most outstanding level.
Mickey Wright
During her remarkable career in the 1950s and 1960s, Mickey Wright, widely regarded as one of the finest female golfers of all time, made a significant impression on the sport. Her beautiful swing and excellent skills set her apart, as she has 82 LPGA Tour titles, including 13 major championships. Wright’s legacy lives on via the many female golfers who have adopted her approach and technique.
Michelle Wie
Michelle Wie became famous early on at age 10 due to her golf community involvement. Her successes since debuting as a young prodigy include one major title victory and multiple LPGA Tour triumphs. Wie’s influence on women’s golf is undeniable, even if injuries and obstacles put her career to the test. She broke through boundaries and showed the potential for women in golf, cementing her position as a critical figure in the game’s history and inspiring numerous young girls to take up the sport.
Patty Berg
Patty Berg was a great innovator in women’s golf. She was a founding member of the LPGA and became one of the most successful female golfers ever after winning 60 LPGA Tour events and 15 major titles. Berg’s commitment to improving women’s professional golf, combined with her contributions to the growth and development of the sport, sealed her status as a trailblazer in addition to her extraordinary victories.
Let’s hear from you . . .![]()
Thanks for your comments, questions and suggestions. I appreciate them and would like to get as many as possible.
If you have information about anything golf-related, including upcoming clinics, activities, tournaments or sales, let me know.
And if you have questions, complaints or compliments about golf in our area, let me know and I’ll make some inquiries. Email me at bmeadows4sports@aol.com