Bushwood Member Blair O'Neal is,um,QUALIFIED !

A few weeks back, we interviewed Blair O'Neal - this year's uber-hottie from TGC's Big Break PEI. Blair was super nice throughout the interview process - and shortly after the post was up, our membership committee met, and voted rather UNANIMOUSLY to extend a membership to Blair.

For those of you who follow The Big Break, you probably noticed that early on Blair was sort of considered "just a pretty face", and was not given much of a chance - while we can surely understand the former, the latter has turned out to be far from the truth. After 5 people have been booted from the show, our girl Blair is still there kickin azz and takin' names... However, that is not the big news.

On Monday May 18th, there was a little event at the Phoenix Country Club - called the U.S Women's Open local qualifier. Entered in the event was none other than the lovely and talented Blair O'Neal. I won't make you wait any longer to learn what all the excitement is about here at BCC - Blair rocked the house, shooting a cool 3 over par 75 to QUALIFY FOR THE SECTIONALS ! To show Blair our support, the members have voted to sponsor Blair in the sectionals - that's right - we have assessed our members and will be paying her entry fee into the US Women's Open Sectional.

We caught up with Blair today, and asked her a few questions about the local qualifier:

Cash: First of all, congrats on takin' some names at the Phoenix CC this weekend. We were cheering hard and long for you! Tell us a little about it.

Blair: Thanks for the Congrats. I had an awesome day - it was a little nerve wracking at times, but I am happy with the result.

Cash: How did you start the round ?

Blair: Oddly, I started off not so well - I hit my first drive into a fairway bunker, and eventually double bogeyed the hole ! UGH! But then, I settled down and put together a string of pars.

Cash:When was your first birdie ?

Blair: On my 9th hole (actually the par 5 #18) b/c I started on the back 9), I hit a great drive, laid up with a 6 iron, and was about 100 yards out. From there, I hit my approach to about a foot - that gave me a lot of momentum for the last nine holes. I also had one of my good friends from high school caddying for me - so she helped keep me focused on the moment.

Cash: What was the layout like ?

Blair: The course played pretty long - probably 6,600 yards or so - which helped me because I was able to use my distance off the tee to my advantage. The greens were very fast,but in great condition - so I was rolling the ball pretty well. Oh, and it 107 degrees at around 1:00 !

Cash: OMG - that's ridiculous ! So what's next up ?

Blair: Well, I selected the Maryland site for playing in the sectionals. I have some friends in the area, and I think the course sets up well for me - so hopefully I will play well, and make it into the U.S. Open.

Cash: Well, everyone here is cheering hard for you - we are all proud of how well you are playing. It's obvious that the hard work you told us about earlier is really paying off for you. I gotta tell you one final story - I was playing last week and one of my partners brought along his 13 year old son named Caleb. When I told him about Bushwood, and that you were a member here he almost melted.

Blair: Melted ?

Cash: His immediate response was this "Blair is the PERFECT woman - she is a model, she plays golf, and she is HOTTT! I wish could meet her !". I told him I would ask you to send him one of your famous autographed photos - can we do that ?

Blair: Sure..I'm happy to !

Cash: Blair, thanks again for your time. Always nice talking to you - and keep on rockin !

Ok gang, that's it from BCC today. Keep watching and cheering for our homegirl Blair O'Neal, and check her out at www.blairgolf.com.

Blair O'Neal Interview - She's a Long Ball Hitter !

Bushwood CC is proud to bring you the second installment in our 3 interview series with contestants from this year’s Big Break. Today, we will be talking to a multi-talented native of Macomb, Illinois who fled the wintry Midwest for sunny Arizona at the tender age of two ! Guys, I gotta tell you, she is so pretty it will make your eyes blur - AND she can probably smoke it past you off the first tee - so get ready to be impressed, informed, and maybe a little intimidated !

Before we get started with the interview, I am psyched to tell you that Blair is partnering with Bushwood CC on our FIRST prize giveaway - Here is how it works: Just send an email to bushwoodcountryclub@gmail.com before May 7th, 2009. The winner (to be chosen at random) will receive their choice of one of the autographed items from the "Pro Shop" section of Blair's website. While you are there, feel free to browse around and buy some stuff - it goes to a great cause, supporting Blair's efforts to make it on tour.

And now, please give a HUGE Bushwood Country Club welcome to the lovely Blair O’Neal. (applause is deafening...)

Cash: Hi, Blair, it’s awesome to have you here at Bushwood Country Club’s 19^th hole. Thanks for making time for us.

Blair: Thanks for inviting me – I know that this chair is a special place, so I feel privileged to be here with you.

Cash; Sweet, well, I know the word is getting out that BCC is the happenin’ place to be – we had to turn down Spencer (and Heidi) last week, because our standards are pretty damn high. Anyway, enough about us, lets talk about you. You are quite a tall drink of water – you look like a model or something…

Blair: Well, I am 5’10” tall, and actually I AM a model. A little shameless self promotion here, if you do not mind – check me out at www.blairgolf.com

Cash: Nothing wrong with self promotion….we have collected some questions from the members here at Bushwood – do you feel like opening up a bit with us ?

Blair: No problem, but can you get me something to drink. Um, and don’t try the “apple juice trick” like you did on the eTrade baby, ok. I've been to more than one rodeo,cowboy...

Cash: Um, you, uh..., heard about that ??? Ok, No prob – here is a bottle of water. (see what I mean, fellas !) Ok, Blair, lets tee it up…

• Tell us a little about yourself – age, hometown, where you live now, college, etc. I’m 27 years old and live in Scottsdale, AZ. I played collegiately for 4 years at ASU, and loved every minute of it. I grew up in Tempe, so ASU was something that I always had a strong affinity for. As you mentioned earlier, I was born in Macomb, Illinois. Right now, in addition to working really hard on my golf game, I am also modeling and going on casting calls.

• Tell us about your time at ASU ? ASU was an incredible experience. When I was growing up, I always wanted to go there and play golf. One of my early goals was to be recruited for the golf team and receive a scholarship to play there. I always dreamed of playing golf at ASU because they had a great program and one of the best coaches in the country, Linda Vollstedt. My favorite memories of ASU are (1) getting recruited to play there, (2) going to NCAA nationals EVERY year, and (3) winning the long drive contest !

• What are your goals for 2009 ? My goals for 2009 are to play in as many competitive events as possible (Cactus Tour, Duramed Futures Tour, etc) and to go to LPGA Q school at the end of the year. I will be working very hard on my game, and am on the lookout for sponsors to support me in this effort. As you know, the purses are not large on the developmental tours, so every dollar really counts!

• What part of your game are you working the hardest on ? I am really paying particular attention to my short game and the mental side of golf. I have always hit the ball pretty far, and with good accuracy. To better my tournament scores, I have got to really perfect the scoring part of the game inside 100 yards.

• How were you introduced to golf ? I started pretty young – I hit my first ball at 11, and was playing tournaments by the time I was 13. My Dad is a golfer, and when I was 11, he put my brother and me in a junior golf clinic. I loved it IMMEDIATELY. When we finished the clinic, Dad could see the gleam in my eyes, so he got me started with lessons and I have been hooked ever since that time.

• What’s in your bag ? Well, right now I am playing PING – and the folks at Ping (an Az. based company) have been very nice to me over the years. I play the Ping ISI blade irons, a G2 driver (I know it’s old, but I love it), Ping tour wedges, and a Ping Anser putter. I took some time off of competing the last couple of years, so I will be updating some of my equipment this year. I play the Titleist Pro V1 ball.

• So we have to ask, How do YOU mark your Titleist ? I mark my Pro V1 with two dots above the name on the ball – my colors change. Sometimes, I get balls with the ASU logo – I love Sparky!

• Tell us about your work with Play Golf Designs – what is involved in that ? Play Golf Designs is a really cool outfit – first class all the way. I’ve worked with Nisha there for a little over two years, and played in 3 events with them. The coolest was a Broadcasters Association Tournament in CT – there were tons of former pro athletes there – I remember playing a Par 3 with Ahmad Rashad and several others – very memorable stuff. I like working with PGD because it fits well with my schedule, and provides a unique opportunity to interact with people who really care about golf.

• How many holes in one do you have in your career ? I have only had one ace in my career ! I was playing a practice round in college, and hit a 6 iron into a long, uphill par 3 with an elevated green. I’m waiting for my hole in one during a tournament round!

• OK, now for a personal question – since you won the long drive contests in college, how far do you hit your driver ? I average about 275 - 280 off the tee. I have always hit the ball a long way, and this really helps my game.

• Who would be in your dream foursome and why ? Hmmmm – Tiger, my Dad, and My Grandfather. I never got to play golf with my grandfather – he played back home in Illinois and was a great golfer. His name was Robert O’Neal, and I’ve heard stories about how he loved to play in tournaments… so I think that would be a good group!

• Favorite sports other than golf ? Growing up I was very involved in dance (ballet,tap,cheer,etc). I basically gave it up so I could focus on improving my golf game. In high school, I did one year of track… but it was really just for fun. Now, I enjoy yoga, lifting weights, and I LOVE hiking up Camelback Mountain right here in the valley of the sun. I also enjoy going to basketball and hockey games. (Editor’s note – little known fact – Blair was the STAR player for one of the teams in the Lingerie Bowl)

• Favorite athlete ? Tiger is my favorite athlete – his focus and ability to execute under pressure is an incredible motivator.

• What frustrates you the most ? Hmmmm, I’d say all that’s incolved in getting sponsors for a player like me is one of the most frustrating things for me – I really really want to place 110% of my focus on improving my game, and not worry about how I am going to get the funding to support my pursuit of making the LPGA tour. Entry fees and travel expenses add up very quickly. (Hint to prospective sponsors – Blair is a sharp, smart, articulate, attractive, and imminently likable person. This is someone to take a long, hard look at !)

• What makes you smile ? I smile all the time, and love to laugh ! Although nothing makes me smile like hitting a great golf shot.

• What’s on your IPOD ? A mix, really. I really love music – currently there is a Black Eyed Peas song called “Boom Boom Pow” that I cannot get out of my head. I like up-tempo music.

• What's your take on the whole "new media / Web 2.0" thing ? I am pretty technologically forward thinking - It is a great way to establish and promote your personal brand, and to connect with people - fans and friends. I am on Facebook and Twitter, and have a pretty cool website as well.

Cash: Blair, thank you so much for taking time to talk to the folks here at Bushwood. We have really enjoyed getting to know you a little better, and look forward to catching up with you as the season progresses.

Blair: You are welcome - it was great spending time with you - this is a REALLY nice place you have here.

Cash: Nothing but the finest here at Bushwood - since Judge Smails went to that great bunker in the sky and left us his millions, we are rolling in a fat way ! We are super excited to welcome you as a member of Bushwood Country Club, and like all new members, your Bushwood CC t-shirt is on the way to you. Don't forget to send us a pic of you sporting it, ok ?

Blair: I promise to wear it with pride and humor, er, honor, and always uphold the values and virtues of Bushwood...



For more info on Blair O'Neal be sure to check out the upcoming season (premiering April 20th) of TGC's "Big Break PEI" - Blair is sure to be a hit with everyone. You can also find Blair online at www.blairgolf.com, or on Twitter @blairalana.

You can see videos of Blair and Big Break PEI here:

http://tinyurl.com/c9vslx and here http://tinyurl.com/cg5f2j

KIM KOUWABUNPAT Interview

As promised, Bushwood is breaking the news with another exclusive interview. Here is the FIRST of a three part series of interviews with 3 of the competitors in the upcoming Big Break - PEI which premiers on April 20th on The Golf Channel. Leading off is the beautiful and talented KIM KOUWABUNPAT - Kim was super nice throughout the interview, and we are sure that she will do well in her competitions in 2009. So, without further adieiu, here is Kim :

Cash: Kim, welcome to Bushwood Country Club - we really appreciate you taking the time to talk to us today.
Kim: Thanks for having me, it is a pleasure to talk to you and I am looking forward to enjoying all the benefits of being a member of Bushwood !
Cash: Ah, I see the word is out that all interviewees are granted full membership into BCC. Well, in that case, welcome to the Club, now let's get started, shall we...
THE QUESTIONS...
1. Tell us a little about yourself – age, hometown, where you live now, college, etc.: I am 27 years old and am from Upland, CA. I was born Oct 11th, 1981 in Chino, CA. I played on a full scholarship collegiately for 4 years at Stanford, and graduated in 2004 with a degree in Psychology.
2. What was golf in the PAC 10 like ? PAC 10 golf was simply incredible. As a conference, we were strong and the courses we played were awesome. The competition was also very fierce. While I was representing Stanford, Lorena Ochoa, Erica Blasberg, and Natalie Gulbis were some of the talented names all competing in the conference.
3. Most memorable Stanford experience ? I have tons of great memories from Stanford - First of all, the campus is absolutely gorgeous! Where else can you get Thai food for lunch from the basement of the Psychology building and eat it in the sunny quad with laboratory-bred black squirrels running by? Haha! In regards to golf, we had access to world class courses like Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, Spyglass, and San Francisco Club ! Having the Stanford Golf Course as our home course was an incredible opportunity... AND their grill serves one of the best vanilla shakes in the area! One of my best memories was watching Kelly Slater (world champ Surfer) tee off in front of us at Cypress Point! Other great memories : (1) My Sr. year, our coach surprised us by flying us up in a private jet to Bandon Dunes, Oregon to play Pacific Dunes, (2) Our whole team went to Scotland for 10 days to play some of the great classic courses like Carnoustie, Kings Barns, Turnberry, and St. Andrews (to name a few). We traveled out there with the University of Washington team and had an amazing time. I'll also never forget our pre-season team retreats to Tahoe and Santa Cruz every year... Overall, Stanford has an amazing tradition that I truly loved being a part of.
4. What are your goals for 2009 ? My primary goal this year is to be fully prepared for LPGA Q school at the end of the season and to earn my full card.
5. How many events do you plan to play in 2009 ? I just finished my calendar for 2009, and am planning to compete in about 19 events.... Although, my schedule is subject to change. You can keep updated on my website at www.KimCanYouOnePutt.com. Click under 'Traveling Bunny' for my tournament schedule and results! :)
6. What part of your game are you working the hardest on ? The mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the game are my primary focus area right now - having the right mind set, and really being "in the moment" over every shot. I believe that golf is much more than just mechanics and the mental game. Beyond that, I believe that a large part of it is emotional and spiritual as well and it's important to address how they can affect one's game. This may sound a little cheesy, but finding peace on the golf course is something I've been learning to understand and working on improving as well. As far as technical improvements, I am working hard on my iron play - I need to hit more greens in regulation and also convert my birdie putts.
7. How were you introduced to golf ? My Dad introduced me to golf when i was 9 years old. He picked up the game and I decided to join him to the driving range one day. The first club I pulled from the bag (I will never forget this !) was a Tommy Armour Silver Scot 7 iron. I launched my first shot in the air, straight and solid - and I have been hooked on golf ever since.
8. What’s in your bag ? I pretty much play a complete Nike bag - Nike cci irons, hydrid, and sv wedges. I am experimenting a little with my driver at the moment, going back and forth between a Nike and a Ping G5. My putter is a custom Scotty Cameron Newport 2.5 (see photo below) with my nickname and initials engraved. I LOVE my putter! :)

9. What about your ball - which one do you play and how do you mark it ? I play the Nike One Tour ball. I mark it with dots (pink or purple) on both ends of the swoosh and color in the number.
10. Tell us about your work with Play Golf Designs – what is involved in that ? Play Golf Designs is a really cool innovative business concept - we are a Custom Golf Events company and Players' Organization that consists of 24 female professional golfers from the LPGA, Duramed Futures, CN Canadian Women's, and Ladies Asian Tours. We promote womens golf via customized events of any size... corporate outings, private events, golf clinics, pro-ams and more! We also offer other services through our event solutions, golf concierge, and public relations for both our players and events - we provide the complete package. I have been part of PGD since 2006 and have really enjoyed it. You can now view our new website at www.playgolfdesigns.com!
11. What has been your most memorable experience with PGD ? Nisha (Sadekar - PGD's founder) and I were at the Honda Classic one year on a corporate sponsorship package to promote our company. We had a great time the entire week, enjoying our hospitality tent behind the 18th green! But what put the cherry on top was when we ran into Retief Goosen at the local Yardhouse! As we were chatting up a conversation with him, the "Goose" introduced us to his friend who walked up... "Meet my friend, Sergio..." We just about choked on our diet cokes. They were a blast to hang out with and were very nice. 12. How many holes in one do you have in your career ? I have made FOUR holes-in-one, and all were very memorable. My first was when I was 11 years old, and I was playing with my Mom. My second was during the final round of my final junior tournament of my junior career. The last two were with my Stanford teammates. I've also had 1 hole-in-three. (holed out on a par 3 after dunking my first tee shot in the water, and re-teeing)
13. OK, now for a personal question - how far do you hit your driver ? I average between 245 - 250 yards off the tee. With the help of my new training regiment, hopefully my coach and trainer will be able to stretch that out a little bit!... Watch out, girls!! :)
14. Who would be in your dream foursome and why ? Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Michelle Tafoya. I think it's obvious why I want to play with MJ and T-Woods... It's been a dream of mine to be a court side reporter for the NBA or College ball, and I look up to Michelle's work on the sidelines! I would love to play a round of golf with these guys and commentate every play with Michelle!! :) Maybe a mixed best ball match...
15. Favorite sports other than golf ? I am a HUGE basketball fan - Both college ball and NBA. I'm a Mad Woman for March Madness and a Sports Nut in general! ... I also love watching football, tennis, baseball and hockey. I love staying active in playing all sports. During the off-season I enjoy competing in a softball and racquetball league.
16. Favorite athlete ? I have 3 favorite athletes - I love Roger Federer's grace on the tennis courts, Kobe's fade-away jumper behind the arc, and Tiger's dominating presence on the greens. I've also always been a fan of Serena Williams who brings a fashionable sense of style to athletics.
17. What frustrates you the most ? I am not easily frustrated - I always do my best to focus on the positive and avoid dwelling on the negative. Every situation is an opportunity to learn and grow. I'll always find a reason to smile. :)
18. What makes you smile ? Hmmmm, lots of stuff - the smell of coffee in the morning, the sound of rain when cuddled up inside, hanging with my cat (Hippo), watching a game-winning buzzer beater in a bball game, the Lakers becoming NBA World Champions, the sound of a long putt dropping in the cup, and putting my head down to sleep on my pillow after a great productive day... honestly, the list goes on and on...
19. What’s on your IPOD ? I KNEW this one was coming ! My musical tastes are fairly eclectic (and sometimes a little sappy...) - I like Sade, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Luther Vandross, Journey, Peter Cetera, Alicia Keys, Chicago....I'm a romantic at heart... But I can also feel the beat with Hip Hop and Pop music!

20. What is one song that gets you really pumped up and ready to compete? I am not one of those people who use music to motivate me - you will never see me on the putting green with my Ipod listening to tunes while I am working on my game.

21. I know you cannot reveal any secrets about the upcoming Big Break, but is there one thing you can tell us to be on the lookout for in the first episode ? All I can say is to stay tuned, be prepared to be shocked, be amused by my comments, and enjoy the interesting challenges!! :) 22. o k -last question - Can we get the first interview after you win your first event ? Absolutely! I'll look forward to that moment VERY soon! ;)

A HUGE Bushwood thanks to Kim K - she was a great interview, and we look forward to sharing her success in 2009 and beyond. For more info on Kim, check her out here:
http://www.kimkouwabunpat.com

www.KimCanYouOnePutt.com