The Golfchick

That chick blabbing about anything golf related.

Tag: robbie biershenk (page 1 of 32)

Chasing The Dream?!?

November 8, 2012 / / 6 Comments

***Editor’s Note/Disclaimer: WARNING! This post contains the “S” word. Read at your own risk. TheGolfChick.com assumes no responsibility for any negative effects that reading this material may have on your game or your life. ***

 I’ve been watching the new Golf Channel show called Chasing the Dream, and it’s invoked some unexpected emotions and opinions from me. So much so, that I’m going to blog about it. In case you’re not familiar with the show, I’ll give you, my faithful readers, a brief synopsis. Golf Channel has found two professional golfers, each with a dream to make it in the professional game, and is following them during the 2012 season to see if they can reach their dream.

The two golfers come from vastly different backgrounds, which adds an interesting element to the show. One individual, Chris Anderson, is a former touring professional who even made it to the big show for a few years in the mid 2000’s. He has 3 professional wins, 2 on the Golden State tour, and 1 on the Hogan/Nike/Buy.com/Nationwide/Web.com tour in 2004. According to the show, Chris gave up the game to run his family’s forklift business in 2009, with the new responsibility of raising a young family. After a few years away, the “what if” bug has infected him, and he wants to give it another go. The other golfer, Robbie Biershenk, is a struggling driving range pro with an older brother (Tommy) who’s already made the PGATOUR. Robbie, who calls himself “Shank,” owns a roadside driving range, struggles with failing equipment and mounting bills, and gives the occasional lesson to make ends meet, all while living in the shadow of his brother. (Full disclosure – The word “shank” is a contagious disease to me. His nickname makes me hesitate to even watch the show. For anyone who’s ever had a case of the hosels, broken every club in their bag over their knee while standing on a driving range for hours, bashing ball after ball at a 90 degree right angle, barely able to see through the tears streaming out of their eyes and the blood dripping from their hands, that word needs to be removed from the English language. In fact, even saying that word at the course I grew up on would get you kicked out, and potentially beaten up by the geriatric retired men who felt even more strongly about that word than I do. I will be referring to him as Robbie, and will attempt to not let his truly awful nickname influence my opinion of him or the show.) Robbie feels that to to truly succeed in life, he has to succeed on the PGATOUR.

I’ve been watching this show for 3 or 4 weeks now, since its debut. In all honesty, my initial reaction was anger towards these guys. I had planned, and began writing, a scathing narrative chastising these guys for being ignorant and irresponsible, blindly chasing a dream that so many of us have, but are either too logical or frightened to pursue. And then, I watched another episode, and another…and I started to sympathize with their struggle. Those guys are chasing a dream that so many of us have, but are either too logical or frightened to pursue. Now I have 2 contradictory opinions about their pursuit, and after weeks of internal debate, cannot decide which side of my own argument to take.

Argument #1 – Wide Eyed Optimism

Both Chris and Robbie have a dream. Lots of golfers have the exact same dream, and some of those golfers have considerably more talent. Playing professional golf at an elite level takes more than being able to shoot good scores. Shooting those good scores, on increasingly difficult courses under smothering pressure requires hours of instruction and dedication to the art of striking a golf ball. Lots of players can hit good shots, but very few have the time and energy to devote to perfecting that art. Assuming a player has the time to dedicate, even fewer of those players have a body that can stand up to the number of golf swings a full day of practice requires. Robbie and Chris have incredibly long odds, and I commend them for not giving up. Both of them have careers, Chris even has a family to support, but they are both willing to make the mental, physical, and emotional sacrifices required to not let their dreams die. Their wide-eyed enthusiasm is refreshing in an increasingly adult world filled with commitments and responsibilities. They refuse to give up, and are an inspiration to every one of us who will always ask “what if” when it comes to potential golf careers. They know the odds are stacked against them, and while they don’t have the ability to dedicate 100% of their lives to playing golf, they are making due with what they have. They are practicing smart, focusing on what needs attention at the time, rather than their entire game every day. I genuinely hope they succeed and reach their goals.

Argument #2 – Are They Crazy?!?

What are these guys thinking? For every golfer who’s made a career playing the game, a thousand have failed. At some point, it’s time to grow up and accept that just because they want something, it doesn’t mean it will happen. Both of these guys are around 40 years old, 20 years older than the most recent crop of hopeful touring pros. 20 years older than the guys with no bad memories, and no crushing defeats, and no responsibilities waiting for them outside of the ropes. Chris and Robbie had their shots, now its time to accept the fact that golf wasn’t meant to be, and they should move on. These guys are splitting time between careers and golf, neither getting their full attention. Too much of that, and both will suffer. Guess what, we all have dreams, we will all go to our grave with a giant “what if” hanging over our head, but at some point we have to grow up and cut our losses. Give up already.

I don’t have any idea which side of my own argument to take. The cynical part of me thinks these guys need to get a clue, accept the fact they just don’t have it, and move on with life. The child in me thinks its great, these guys have thrown caution to the wind, risking all they have spent their lives building on the chance they catch lighting in a bottle at the exact right time. Each episode is like watching a train wreck with a new girlfriend. On the inside, wanting to see carnage and destruction, with no hope for survival and one heck of a story to tell the local news crew. All the while, telling the new girlfriend what you’re watching is awful and you hope everyone gets out safe. This is normally where I’d have some sort of conclusion statement, summarizing my thoughts. This time, however, I have no idea what I think. No idea at all.

Next post.

Tiger Woods has work done, Lorena Ochoa takes the spotlight

April 22, 2008 / / 4 Comments

Tiger’s website says he underwent “arthroscopic knee surgery” last week and will be out 4-6 weeks while he rehabilitates.

Translation (from internal memo):

Worn part #52a92J replaced in subject Gpr8#kl2. Actual time out of commission: 5.8 Earth minutes. Cover story issued to handlers. “Arthroscopic knee surgery” often requires 4-6 weeks of rehabilitation time in actual humans, therefore subject and handlers may use this as justification for not participating in several undesirable events as well as recent loss at the human revered “Masters.”

This “down time” and distraction allows us to focus on our internal reorganization and determine how best to assign our assets between subjects Gpr8#kl2 and Bw8^p4m. For those not previously involved in subject Bw8^p4m’s development and assimilation, we gave it a human female form with Mexican heritage and call it “Lorena Ochoa.” You will receive further information if you are transitioning to this case.

Next post.

Duh… what’s a birdie?

April 15, 2008 / / 5 Comments

You have probably encountered people who work at golf courses who don’t know the first thing about golf. Do you care?

If they have any kind of impact on the course of play, of course they should know about golf. Course attendants or marshals need to know how things work to do their jobs effectively. Pro shop workers need to be able to assist golfers when necessary. The cart girl needs to understand etiquette out there but does she need to know anything else? What about 19th hole workers?

I have talked with some people about this and opinions vary. Some guys I’ve talked to don’t care as long as the person in question is a hot chick. Some actually want them to know as little as possible because they think they’re more likely to impress them if they’re golf dumb. Some feel the opposite – “the more they know, the better I’ll look.” Some like a cute, giggly “what’s a birdie” question so they have an in to chat with her. Some like to make golf small talk with the bartender as s/he’s pouring their pre-round bloody mary.

What do you think? Here’s a quick poll to let your opinion be heard.

Poll Closed. Thanks for voting!

Next post.

A Blasphemous Look at The Masters

April 14, 2008 / / 8 Comments

Forgive me, but I enjoy watching The Masters.

When most people think of watching a program as a guilty pleasure, they think American Idol or Dancing with the Stars. For me, it’s The Masters. I’m sure not too many people are ashamed to say they enjoy the tournament, and saying that I am ashamed won’t make me very popular in the golf community. But not admitting it would be like hearing a racist or sexist joke among a group and politely smiling instead of speaking up.

I don’t know of another tournament that could make a male player publicly cry when they lose (like Brandt Snedeker did yesterday). It’s an important event – perhaps the most important in the history of golf. There is glory in its tradition. But in this modern world in which women are allowed to vote and everything, does there come a time when glory becomes glorification? When will sexist traditions become part of that “rich history” along with the racist ones and not present policy? Changing the way things are done doesn’t discount existing history, it only enriches future history books.

I respectfully disagree with anyone who thinks discriminatory practices should continue in order to “preserve the honor and tradition” of the course and/or the event. In my opinion, entry to the tournament should be earned based on merit. Entry to the club should still be at the discretion of the members. And though there may not be many (if any) women who meet those qualifications today, they should not be summarily disallowed as a group.

In my latest post at Swing Thoughts on Golf For Women, I discuss my feelings on this further, with particular focus on Augusta National’s policies.

Please feel free to leave your comments. I may or may not respond.

Next post.

Ridiculous Rory misses the mark at The Masters

April 12, 2008 / / 2 Comments

I know, I know… The Masters is still going on and is engaging as all get out with Tiger making a charge today, the first day’s leader (Justin Rose) plummeting to near the bottom of the leaderboard, and 3 players at the top of the leaderboard each with three solid rounds under par. And what do I write about? Ridiculous Rory Sabbatini.

He missed the cut – so much for “breaking the curse” after winning the par 3 contest. Fortunately, that means we don’t get treated to a weekend of ridiculous belt buckles. Yesterday’s gem not only had no place at Augusta, it has no place on Rory. I’m sorry, I just think he’s incapable of pulling off this “style” he’s been attempting. His entire persona seems affected, and his choice in apparel seems out of place on him. Geoff Shackelford made a good call back at Riviera: Rory: Liberace called, he wants his belt buckle back.

Lord knows I’m no fashionista, but I like to think I know what I can pull off and what I can’t. Rory looks as ridiculous in his piped trousers, loud colors, flashy belt buckles and tiny visors as I would in booty shorts and knee socks, and a cocky strut doesn’t change that for either of us. I could stuff a potato into a G.I. Joe outfit, name him Paolo, give him a mysterious back-story and a sympathetic and intriguing character image, and he’d still look like a spud in doll’s combat clothes.

Whether his duds are his own choices or if someone else is dressing him (I find that hard to believe), it certainly has gotten him attention. If that was the whole point, congratulations. But if he wanted that attention to be positive – another missed cut.

Next post.

Beware the passive-aggressive sandbagger

April 9, 2008 / / 6 Comments

You know the cheating scumbags when you see them. The ones who intentionally post higher scores or conveniently “forget” to post their low scores. The obvious techniques to pad handicaps and gain extra strokes in competitions are easy to spot. But what about the passive-aggressive cheaters?

There is a sneakier behavior I only recently noticed. Perhaps there’s a weasel in your midst. Is there a person in your club who consistently plays better than his or her handicap in tournaments? Maybe you even play casual rounds with them or witness them entering accurate scores after rounds. They can look you in the eyes and be sincere when they say they post every score, count every stroke and vigilantly apply Equitable Stroke Control. You (and they) are comfortable in their honesty because they actually are truthful statements. So where is the sneakiness? Out on the golf course during casual rounds. They play enough to keep their games sharp, so as soon as they realize they’re not setting any personal bests in a round, they get intentionally lazy. They don’t focus or try their best to make putts. Flub a chip here, slice a drive there. Their scores become inflated and the score they post at the end of the round is technically accurate but not indicative of their actual abilities.

But why be aware of this when there is really nothing you can do about it? How can you “call out” a person when you have no proof of their intentions out there? All you can hope for is that your handicap chairman recognizes it and audits the person’s index. Adjustments can be made at that level such as attaching more weight to rounds (giving them T-score ratings) or even manually changing a course handicap for tournament play.

Maybe if they know you’re onto them, they’ll be guilted into changing their behavior. Everyone knows an obvious sandbagger and they probably get harassed about it, but the crafty weasels with the passive-aggressive techniques deserve their share of ribbing as well.

Next post.

No bogeys, no yips? Just zombies and drips.

April 7, 2008 / / 1 Comment

I think we can all agree it would be amazing to play a round of golf with our favorite professional. They might even relax a little and have a fun, light-hearted round. But to see them on tour is a different story. Calm, cool, and in some cases, even zombie-like, professional golfers mean business out there. They have to – it is their business.

If you could take a pill that would make you perform at that staid level, it might enhance your score. But would it enhance your day? This is the topic of discussion on my latest post over at Swing Thoughts on Golf For Women, which followed an interesting (and perhaps provocative) story by John Cassidy at Men’s Vogue.

Next post.

Pro golf in the Caribbean

April 4, 2008 / / 7 Comments

Here’s a phrase I don’t use every day: I’m really excited to watch the Champions Tour this weekend.

Why? They’re playing at my happy place, Punta Espada Golf Course at Cap Cana. I absolutely LOVE this golf course and seeing it in play by the seniors is going to be wonderful. If watching it on television is the closest you can get for now as well, I highly recommend checking it out.

I had to amend my TiVo to-do list, as my PGA “wish list” was picking up the regular PGA Tour as well as the European Tour above the Champions since they start earlier.

It’s on The Golf Channel at the following times:
Friday: 1 PM – 3 PM EST
Saturday and Sunday: 1 PM – 4 PM EST

I shot a video at this course when I played there a couple years ago. You can see it here. And here is my original post about my experience there.

Next post.

Why don’t the men promote their sexiness?

April 1, 2008 / / 6 Comments

Whether you like it, hate it, or feel indifferent, many professional female golfers promote their sexiness on their respective tours. And the LPGA certainly doesn’t seem to discourage it.

So why don’t the men do it? Don’t they realize they have many fans attracted to men? There are some seriously sexy players on the PGA Tour, but we just don’t seem to hear too much about that. Sure, we’ll get a rare scantily clad image, but I bet they’re not regarded well by their peers. Ian Poulter’s recent nude photo had its share of negative press. Frankly, while I don’t mind that kind of exposure, I find some of them extremely sexy while fully clothed on the golf course.

The golfers who do get some press about their sexiness are predictable choices, like Adam Scott and Camilo Villegas. Watching the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans this weekend, I couldn’t help but notice a couple others. It doesn’t seem so long ago that I would have been gaga over 26-year old Andres Romero, who sat casually yawning in the clubhouse checking out his i-tunes library on a laptop while waiting to see if he’d be faced with a playoff. Instead, I was gaga over Peter Lonard, the 40-year old on his way in, threatening to be the playoff contender. Admittedly, I haven’t seen too much of him, so I had to wait until he was on 18 and removed his cap to even know if there was hair under there (there is), but I didn’t care. There could be a slightly Costner-esque appeal there, but he just looks like the quintessential golfer to me, and in my mind, that’s sexy. But you won’t see him getting any steamy press. Except, I guess, for here on this blog. If you can call this “press.”

Dear Peter, I’m sorry you didn’t force the playoff. Not only for a chance at winning, but so that I could see more of you. I hope to see more of you atop the … leaderboard in the future, since we all know you won’t get camera time if you’re not.

Next post.

How to Play with a Woman

March 20, 2008 / / 2 Comments

Much of the advertising on golf broadcasts and in magazines already gives the older guys medicinal “advice” for a playing around with a woman, but I’m focusing on playing a round of golf with a woman. And while many of the younger men already seem to have a handle on it *ahem* and I’m targeting this discussion towards the less evolved individuals of the older generations, there are some young lads who have picked up on certain behaviors from the adult males in their worlds and should also have a read.

The main premise of it all is: She’s a golfer, just like anyone else you play with.

The golf game itself

When it comes to her game, there is no need to offer unsolicited pointers. Just like anyone else, she’ll ask if she’s interested. And, just like anyone else, she may know more or less about rules and etiquette than you do. Don’t assume she needs your advice in this area. Just like anyone else, she’ll ask if she wants confirmation that the drop she’s taking is correct. And, just like anyone else, it will be obvious if she is an inconsiderate playing partner. Would you correct a man in that situation or just complain about it with your buddy and never invite them to play with you again (or hope you never get paired up with someone like that again)? Don’t alter your behavior by condescending to her just because she’s a woman. She’s just another golfer; some you enjoy playing with and some you don’t.

Standard behaviors and civility

Think about all the rounds you’ve played with all the different men and their individual styles. Your behavior adapts to certain situations, doesn’t it? No difference here. You might tone down your antics if you played with an esteemed colleague. Think how your behavior would change if you were lucky enough to play with Tiger Woods. You might enjoy a rare cigar if you played with a sales prospect who happens to bust some out. The point is, you’re already applying the following simple guidelines when it comes to playing with different people. If you’re not already applying them to women as well, why not?

1. Assess the delicacy of the situation

When you’re playing with your usual group, you know those personalities and what is acceptable or what is not. When people play together for the first time, it’s courteous for both parties to act in a civil manner and not use foul language. The default setting in golf (and in life) should be polite. Golfers understand that bad shots can cause spontaneous reactions and you’ll be able to take cues from such outbursts or reactions to them to establish one another’s comfort level with language. A woman may have a fouler mouth than you and should be equally attentive to your preferences.

2. Treat the person like a human being who happens to play golf: with respect

If men play from different sets of tees, they still treat each other with respect and appropriate etiquette on the tees. If a woman plays from the forward tees, have the courtesy to give her the same. She may have to trek up 20 yards to tee up, but she can still hear and see you as you fiddle with your clubs or carts and talk about your shots. And just like your buddies, she’d appreciate another set of eyes tracking her ball as well. Also, if you’re riding in golf carts, please remember to always stop at the forward tees if she’s playing from there. You may be excited to go find your golf ball but there’s still another golfer who needs to tee off. If you were all playing from the back tees, you wouldn’t drive off before the last golfer took her shot.

Don’t treat her like being a woman is a handicap (even if you think it is). Just like any other golfer, she may be more or less skilled than you. Women are generally more realistic about their skill level than men and will play from the appropriate length. Whether or not she plays from there, calling the forward tees “the ladies tees” implies that all women should be required to play from that length no matter their skill or distance and is degrading. Plus, it only further cements your unwillingness to play from there even if you should. And if you should, she knows it. She has choices just like you, and if she doesn’t want to sit in the “back of the bus,” she doesn’t have to. If she’s old fashioned or otherwise not offended by this, you should still behave as if it would. It’s a good habit to adopt.

Don’t talk about how important it is to you that your final score be better than hers (even if that’s how you feel). Being a man doesn’t entitle you to play better than she does. Story time:

I played with an older gentleman who thought it was appropriate to keep mentioning how all he wanted to do was score better than I did. Throughout his long life, he never played passionately or developed his game, and only played occasional rounds over the years. He should have been playing from the forward tees, he took (we gave him) all the mulligans he needed to maintain a modicum of pride, and as we kept score, we were quite generous. Even with all of that, he still couldn’t have bested my legitimate score but kept the delusion alive and out loud. Being fond of this man and knowing his style (his position in life has him accustomed to “yes men”), I finally told him that even “if” he didn’t beat me, we’d be sure to tell him he did. He laughed, and was duly appeased. Without that fondness and established relationship, had that behavior come from anyone else, I would have reached a breaking point, unleashed, and brought him down to size.

The point is, no matter how good you are (or think you are) you’re not entitled to play better than anyone else because of their gender any more than you are because of their race or religion. Would you assume you could beat someone just because they’re Latino or Jewish? And if you actually would, would you say so? And if you would, would you please not go out in public?

The vast majority of the men I’ve played with are polite and respectful and don’t need these guidelines. But for those who do, you know who you are. And I can only hope you’ll pay attention. And I’ll leave it at that for now. Yes, it turned into a little of a rant there, but what can I say? I’ve gots me passionate opinions.

Next post.

Older posts

MENU

© 2024 The Golfchick

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑