The day after “The dullest round EVER” I played the same course – Simi Hills – with friends. I even played from the forward tees with another female golfer – for money! Now that’s golfing. We had a great time and will be playing together more often.
**Side note: some of those pollywogs in the lake on 14 looked like they were already sprouting legs… watch out!**
I also played on Sunday at a course I hadn’t played before called “De Bell” in Burbank. It’s a short but treacherous course. I played as a guest in another club’s tournament, so I wasn’t eligible for prize money. Good thing, I guess, because I wouldn’t have won if I was. I had nine good holes – one birdie, six pars and two bogies. The rest were total disasters and I shot a 108! My highest round in recent memory. I even took a 12 on a par 4 – I don’t remember the last time I took double digits on a hole. Blech. It turned out there were very few people who DIDN’T take a double digit somewhere on that course. It was still really fun and I might have eased up on the beer and taken it more seriously if I were competing.
I still won two out of two closest-to-the-pins, with one coming on a blind shot over a hill. On this par 3, you have to wait for the group in front of you to ring “de bell” before teeing off because you really can’t see the green. I stuck my shot about 5 feet from the pin and my ball mark was about two feet closer than that. That felt good!
I’ll be playing Tuesday in another charity tournament. I think it’s probably a scramble, which can be really fun. We’ve got an enjoyable foursome and I’m looking forward to it.
I could have muttered a few times about hating golf during my 12, but I LOVE PLAYING GOLF.
April 24, 2006 at 10:03 pm
Ladies tees and 108? Sounds like a tough course.
btw, do you follow the LPGA? If you do, I’d be interested in your take on the effect Korean golfers are having. As I see it, in order to grow the tour they have to make it watchable for the majority of American golf fans. I don’t see that happening if half of the winners are named See Hop Sing, don’t speak English and are, frankly, unwatchable.
I follow the LPGA for business reasons, and I’d like to see the tour grow. But no one wants to confront the issue, perhaps because any “solution” would be untenable. What’s your take?
April 24, 2006 at 11:48 pm
Hi Will,
First of all, the forward tees and the 108 I mentioned were during separate rounds. However, I did play the “ladies” tees for the 108 as well, though the difference in yardage wasn’t much.
I don’t really follow the PGA or the LPGA too closely, but I have noticed the pervasive presence of Korean names on the leaderboards in the LPGA. Since you follow it for business reasons (I’d be interested to know what those business reasons are), you must know better than I what the sport needs to grow. Without that knowledge, I’d tend to think the sport and tour could grow plenty, and if that means more Korean fans and players, it’s still more fans and players, right? Again, without really following it, I’m not sure why they’d be unwatchable. The highlights I’ve seen of Korean players have shown excellent play, beautiful swings and pleasant demeanors (sometimes through translation).
But if you think the sport needs more American fans and players, I do have some ideas. “Solutions” don’t have to be opposed to non-American players, which I guess is what the untenable issue is you mentioned. Rather, they can simply address and promote American play without taking anything away from the great players from other countries and their enhancement of the sport.
Feel free to continue to post here or e-mail me if you’d like to discuss this further.
-Kristen
April 25, 2006 at 2:44 am
I appreciate your response. There are very few avenues for the public to engage in honest dialogue about this problem, perhaps your blog might make a modest start.
It’s a numbers game. For the LPGA to attract television viewers, they need attractive and dynamic stars. Female Korean golfers are, almost by definition, uniform and non-dynamic. If Koreans dominate, or even compete equally, the LPGA will suffer.
It’s not solely an American issue. Obviously, European, Latin, and Japanese golfers have all proven to be popular and capable of generating public interest. The problem is a serious influx of bland, machine-stamped nobodies who are winning LPGA tournaments. One cannot promote or sell these winners to the public.
I don’t know what a solution would look like. I see a lot of effort out there, Women’s college golf, the Futures tour, the Big Break stuff, the organization of the LPGA itself, all of it American, by the way. A lot of effort is being put into women’s golf, check out the LPGA website “http://www.lpga.com/content_1.aspx?mid=0&pid=52”.
I’m just fearful that all of this effort will be wasted. I really do think something should be done. I would propose that, at a minimum, all LPGA players should speak passable English, but I can’t think of other workable requirements.
April 25, 2006 at 7:43 am
GC: Sounds like you had a good round, even though your score was a little high. Sorry to rant a bit but…
Will: How would speaking passable english make the Korean players more watchable and dynamic? It seems to me that what you are seeking is a way to exclude the Koreans.
-Greg
April 25, 2006 at 3:41 pm
Will, since you’re looking for some kind of reaction here..you got mine..you’re an idiot. What does speaking english and surnames have anything to do with viewership or tour growth?
I also don’t appreciate “your” stereotyping of asian surnames. Which “half of the winners” LPGA player(s) has the last name of “See” and/or “Hop Sing”? You also say “unwatchable”..how? I think most of the gals are rather cute (Michele Wie, Shi-Hyun Ahn, Grace Park, Mi-Hyun Kim..to name a few)
“..There are very few avenues for the public to engage in honest dialogue about this problem, perhaps your blog might make a modest start”
..problem? Cancer is a problem..but this? I’m sure GC would love to make her blog the “modest start” to your racial dilema
“..they need attractive and dynamic stars. Female Korean golfers are, almost by definition, uniform and non-dynamic. If Koreans dominate, or even compete equally, the LPGA will suffer.”
Yes, because Natalie Gulbis and Paula Creamer are just dogs.”Uniform and non-dynamic”, yes, stop “defining” them you rat bastard. Who wants to watch “equally” competitive golf..that’s soooo..unfair.
“..I really do think something should be done. I would propose that, at a minimum, all LPGA players should speak passable English, but I can’t think of other workable requirements.”
Yes, something should be done..turn your TV off when an LPGA event is on.
April 25, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Apologies for assuming this might be a forum for grown-up, constructive dialog. My mistake!
Golfnomad: when you reach 18 years of age, please reconsider your post.
Anyone care to look at this blurb at LGPA.com? How many paragraphs into the story before they get around to mentioning last week’s winner?
http://www.lpga.com/Content_1.aspx?pid=6257&mid=4
April 25, 2006 at 9:19 pm
Well that’s one way to flatter yourself. Yes, this is a place for “grown up, constructive dialog”..no mistake..no apologies needed.
“Coming off her win at last week’s Florida’s Natural Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez, Rolex First-Time Winner Sung Ah Yim will also compete at Reunion with fellow countrywomen and 2006 tournament winners Joo Mi Kim (SBS Open at Turtle Bay) and Meena Lee (Fields Open in Hawaii).”
This was the 6th paragraph into the story (or 3rd to the last in the article)..what is your point Will? Your extreme dislike for Koreans on the LPGA is well taken into account.
“Golfnomad: when you reach 18 years of age, please reconsider your post. :)”
Interesting age limit reference Will
I don’t need to “reconsider” you troll..back underneath your internet bridge..bad will..bad..bad..bad 
September 20, 2007 at 1:14 am
now we are fussing and now we are fightin. Ulf Raharjo.
October 22, 2007 at 12:18 am
when you say it’s ove. Liesbeth Kiki.