How does the LPGA Right the Ship ?

Folks, there is smoke belching from the engine room of the good ship LPGA - and the Captain of the ship is nowhere to be found. Although I have long been a huge fan of the ladies tour (see one of my first posts here), and was slow to acknowledge the early naysayers, there is no denying now that there are serious problems afoot. To wit:

• Multiple events cancelled in 2009
• No sponsor for one of the LPGA major events
• Confusing (and worsening) TV Coverage schedule
• A 2010 schedule that is melting faster than the wicked witch in a monsoon
• Seeming lack of identity / presence in the U.S.

Not making things any easier is the fact that the most marketable / talented U.S. players (Creamer,Kerr,Pressel,Gulbis, Wie (yes,I really wrote that),Lewis, etc ) have not been winning much lately - as recently as this weekend, Morgan Pressel lost in a playoff. Couple that with a flood of players from the Far East (and don't call me racist,ok - this is just a fact) and you have an organization sorely lacking a marketable identity in the eyes of U.S. consumers.

The latest news (and perhaps this is a sign of better times ahead) is that the players have (finally) grown tired of the (lack of) leadership from Commissioner Carolyn Bivens. I've been fervently wishing for a change here, and maybe change is a comin'. Sports Illustrated reported yesterday that a meeting was held last week in Sylvania,OH (home of the Jamie Farr Classic) in which the players wrote to LPGA President Michelle Ellisthey had "lost faith in Bivens' leadership and policies". For the sake of the LPGA, let's all hope this is true. Bivens mismanagement, poor decisions, and total lack of a strong presence in a time of crisis is laughable - the game and the LPGA deserves so much better than this.

The sad part to of this to me is that on an amateur level, interest in the ladies game appears stronger than ever. More quality female players are out there, better equipment is available for them,and female golfers are more welcome than ever on the links. Couple that with some awesome young talent on both the LPGA and Duramed Futures tour, and you can see why this is so frustrating. Rather than roll around in our own misery here at BCC, however, we have decided to prescribe a cure for the LPGA. Here are our 5 suggestions:

BUSHWOOD'S "CURE FOR PAIN" FOR THE LPGA

1. Fire Carolyn Bivens immediately - she has placed your livelihood in a death spiral.
2. Form an Executive Oversight committee to redefine your business model. This would be made up of Players (male and female, current and past pros), Golf Equipment Execs, and Sponsor Execs. This committee should first seek to understand what each group can contribute and what each group needs to participate - thus defining your business model and the skill set needed for your Commissioner.
3. Hire a Commissioner who can create a Strategic Plan for the business model - one who appreciates and understands all three perspectives (players, manufacturers, and sponsors).
4. Accept the fact that the game is globalizing, and make that a strength - not a liability.
5. Develop a plan to market the players and the game more effectively - The "These Girls Rock" campaign was, I thought, pretty good - but it simply died on the vine and had no sustainability.

These are pretty basic business turnaround fundamentals, and clearly something that the players deserve and should have expected to receive from the beginning. Bushwood has long been an LPGA supporter, and we will redouble our efforts here to back them...I can only hope that things improve fast for all of the talented players of the LPGA...

Sunglasses on the Links - Supah Cool or Oh So Cruel ? ?

If you watched much any of the St. Jude's Classic this weekend, you were confronted with a couple of interesting observations. And if you followed players like Brian Gay (the eventual winner), Robert Allenby, or John Daly you probably concluded that golfers have finally embraced sunglasses as a necessary piece of equipment.

However, I think this weekend was merely a fluke - as most pro golfers STILL do not wear sunglasses on the links. It's really difficult to understand,but Tiger, Phil, Geoff Ogilvy, Lorena Ochoa, Steve Stricker, and MANY others are still among the majority of pro golfers who have not embraced performance eyewear as a necessary piece of equipment - despite plenty of reasons to do so.

To better understand this topic, let's take a brief sashay down memory lane. The first golfer that I recall regularly wearing sunglasses on tour was none other than David Duval. Back in the days when Double D (sorry, I could not resist using that phrase !) was ranked at the top of the heap, he was rockin a pair of Oakleys that we were,um, very noticeable. Like it or not, ol' DD (there I go again) had started a fashion/performance trend. Within a few years, it was very common to see many amateurs (from your local muni to college players everywhere) sporting the upturned Oakleys on the back of their golf caps - but still very few pros. Before you think this was all sizzle and no steak, note that eyecare professionals everywhere were strongly recommending that we protect our eyes from the sun whenever we spent prolonged periods outdoors. Couple that with the eyewear makers developing a much better understanding of the specific needs of various sports and the athletes that played them, and SHAZAAM, sport specific eyewear was born. Now you can find not only sport specific eyewear(from a design/performance perspective), but also sport specific lenses (Oakley, Nike, Kaenon, and Maui Jim are just a few who make "golf specific" lens tints). On the LPGA side of the house, none other than the "American Beauty" herself, Paula Creamer has worked with Sundog to design her own line of Sunglasses - fashion forward and performance oriented.

Now I know that some of the traditionalists out there will scoff at all of this - thinking that eyewear is only a "fad" or simply a "fashion item". I disagree, however - my belief is that performance eyewear is here to stay.

Here is a brief listing of PGA and LPGA players who always have their shades available :

- Davis Love III - Rory Sabbitini - Brian Gay

- Robert Allenby - John Daly - Paula Creamer

- Zach Johnson - David Duval - MIchelle Wie

- Chris DiMarco - Ian Poulter - Yani Tseng

- Morgan Pressel - Carin Koch - Christina Kim

- Henrik Stenson - James Nitties - Kristy McPherson
To further support my position, one needs to look no further than the breeding grounds for our professional tours - the college and high school ranks. Take a look there, and fully 80% of the players count eyewear among their "required" equipment. In conclusion, one may assert that the games leaders are actually laggards in recognizing the need to protect their eyes, AND look damn cool while doing it.

Oh, In case you are looking for me, I'll be the guy in the Visor (that's a topic for another post) and sunglasses, calmly lining up my birdie putt on #18 !

LOOK FOR AN UPCOMING REVIEW OF GOLF EYEWEAR FROM OAKLEY, KAENON,AND MAUI JIM !

P.S. - If you are curious, Brian Gay was wearing Kaenon's "Jetty Black" with a G12 lens on Sunday in Memphis.

Freed by Somali Pirates, LPGA Excitedly Returns Home

OK, they were not exactly being held hostage, but it sure seems like it....

The LPGA returns stateside to the mainland (finally) this week for the J. Golf Phoenix International. Played at the newly renovated Papago Golf Course, Lorena Ochoa returns to defend her title. This event will enjoy some great TV exposure as well, with play being televised on The Golf Channel Thursday - Sunday evenings (yeah, I know it's not LIVE coverage, but let's not get too greedy, ok ?). The super strong field includes Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer, Erica Blasberg, Michelle Wie, Angela Stanford, Pat Hurst, Natalie Gulbis,Leta Lindley, and a host of other LPGA stars.

Along with the veterans, 10 rookies are in the field, nine of whom have their eyes set on becoming a Rolex First-Time Winner. Rookie Jiyai Shin won the HSBC Women's Champions earlier this year in Singapore - her fourth overall LPGA Tour victory - but first as an official member of the LPGA Tour.

The event pays a total purse of $1.5mm, and drew over 159,000 spectators in 2008.

Oh, and if you make it to the event be sure to pay close attention to Erica Blasberg's caddie (wincing under the weight of her bag) - he is none other than our buddy Shane B (aka stylist to the stars). If you see him, give him some water and a cookie .... I think he will need it ! (for those of you watching on TV, online donations can be made at www.sendshaneacookie.net)

My prediction - Cristie Kerr wins by two over Lorena and Angela Stanford.

eTrade Baby Interview (part one) - It's all about "e", Baby...

Bushwood Country Club is rapidly becoming known as home of some of the coolest interviews in the golf blogosphere. I've got a lot of catching up to do before I am at the level of my personal "Yodas of Golf Blogging" (Armchair Golfer and Golf Girl) - but I am a grinder...

Anyway, we have a total SCORE here - In what looks to be a FIRST in the sports world, Bushwood CC has nailed an interview with the guy previously known only as "the eTrade baby". It took some real negotiating, and a serious chunk out of my rapidly dwindling cash balances (dealing with Parent/Agents is a beyotch!!!) ,- but the lil' guy finally signed on the line that is dotted (ABC - always be closing...) and stopped by for a chat. Things were really going great for a long while, until we got sort of, .....well, lets just say this will be a two part interview because we did not quite finish.

Here is how it went down amid the plushness that is BCC's 19th hole....

The Basics
Cash: Welcome to Bushwood, uhhhhhh, eTrade baby...

eTrade Baby: Thanks, dude....how about a beverage, a guy could die of thirst around here.

Cash: Ok, sure - what'll you have ?

eTrade Baby: hmmm, it's early...maybe just a little brewski in my bottle here, ok...Mom will think it's just apple juice or something

Cash: No problem, here you go (incredulously - jeez, it's only 8:30 am)... so, before we get started, ummmmm, what should I call you, I mean what is your name ?

eTrade Baby: Everyone asks me that, y'know... it's a long story, just call me ""e" , ok bunny.

Cash: No problem, "e". Is your bottle ok, before we get started ?

e: "burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp" - "ahhh, why don't you go ahead and top me off there ok - yeah, that's good. I'm ready to go

Cash: Ok - first, tell us a little about yourself.

e: "Well, my people are trying to keep this very hush hush, but screw 'em, I'm letting it all hang out today. I'm 2 1/2 years old, a Saggitarius, and I'm working on getting my own pad down in South Beach (hot chicks there, y'know...). I'm a day trader by profession, but my passion, my craft, my reason for being, is golf. I've been playing for a little over a year now, and am a plus 1 handicap.

Golfing Skills

Cash: Wow - That's pretty amazing - tell us about your game.

e: Well, I am long off the tee for sure - I can lay it out there about 340 most of the time. Everybody thinks this Rory dude is long...let's just say his beatdown is coming. Bunker play is the toughest for me, because at 2' 10", it's damn hard to see over the top of the bunkers. Getting fitted properly is a pain too because I am still growing. I keep the fitters at TaylorMade pretty busy.

Cash: Understood - TaylorMade, huh ? We noticed the visor in your SuperBowl commercial - are they a sponsor ?

e: Oh yeah, they ponied up some serious jack in our first meeting, and just would NOT take no for an answer. We're talking Tiger money, baby - mid 7 figures right out of the chute. I'm set up with the latest and greatest that they have to offer, including Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis on my speed dial.

Cash: Paula and Natalie, hmmm- not too shabby. So you like the ladies, do ya ?

e: Absotively.....hot chicks and kewl sticks, that's how I roll...

The Ladies

Cash: Wow - well, speaking of the fairer sex, we all remember the "bad girl" who texted, and then called you while you were filming on of your famous spots. Who was the naughty one ? Anyone we know ?

e: Awwwwww man, don't press me on that ....Well, ok...it's on the major down low..., but I guess I can let you in on it. You know, I sort of have this thing for older chicks - I mean girls my age just can't handle me. Anyway, it was ....Madonna. How about a refill - this is making me thirsty...burrrrrrp.

Cash: WHAT ? Madonna ?

e: Yeah, she got tired of that A-ROID - I mean, he's like always sticking needles in his butt and stuff, and he still could not keep up with her. Let me tell you, she is hot, my man... Loves the game, too....I've been working with her on her ballstriking, and she is really coming along.

Plan for World Domination

Cash: What do you see in your future ?

e: Well, I've banked a ton of cabbage doing the day trader thing, and my game is almost tour ready - so I am about to BLOW UP. I plan to continue my market mastery for another year, play the Nationwide Tour when I turn 4, and then press Tim Finchem big time to let me on the big stage no later than my 5th birthday. I figure by the time I'm 25, I will have done all I can do on the links and broken all of the records. Then, I plan to climb all 7 Summits, win the NYC marathon, and start training for the Tour de France.

Cash: You certainly have your goals laid out clearly for someone who was born in 2006... Anything else on the horizon ?

e: Actually, yes, a couple of pretty big things. My hip hop record drops July 15th - HOLLA ! Snoop, Fiddy, and T.I. are all over it - (had to tell Kanye "no way"). I've also got a book which will be out in the fall. Beer me, will ya bunny ?

Cash: A book huh - well, our members are of the studious sort, tell us about your book.

e: It's kind of the story of my life - it's called " How to Throw Up and Still Hook Up". I am prolly the world's foremost authority on that...

Mommy Interruptus !!!!

The interview ended abruptly when "e's" Mom, startled by the belch-fest, enters the room and tells us it's time for his nap....It's all good, until she pickes up his bottle of "apple juice" and notices the frothy head on it. Mommy is, er, not thrilled - I may be in a little trouble here...

Postscript: Mommy settled down, and agreed to Part 2 of the interview. Check back soon for more revelations about the Life of "e"...

10 Golf Wishes for 2009

My (Golf Related) Wishes for 2009

So my last post contained my personal golf resolutions / wishes for 2009 – but no mention of anyone else. In the spirit of fairness and goodwill, here are 10 wishes for the rest of the golf world in 2009:

(1) For the LPGA (you know I am a big fan):
-I wish you great performances from some of your marquee players early on (Paula, Morgan, Lorena, Cristie,Natalie, etc) , as well as some breakthrough wins by some newbies (Anna Rawson, Stacy Lewis, Erica Blasberg,etc... – sorry Michelle, you get your own special wish later).
- I also wish you many new fans
- Stability among your sponsors.
- Oh, and I hope you find someone to replace Carolyn B – she SUCKS - totally does not get it…
(2) For the PGA:
-Stability in the sponsorship arena.
-Maybe try reigning in the purses so the best players NEED to play more often – I mean they are PLAYING GOLF for chrissakes
-A quick recovery for Tiger
-Early wins for the most compelling stories / personalities on tour
i. Boo Weekly – hint to media: ever hear the term “crazy like a fox”? He is working you like a pro, guys….
ii. Anthony Kim – used to be a hater, now I love the guy. He is the real deal
iii. Davis Love III – I know he wears Polo like a second skin, but he made a great comeback in ’08, and he will be our RC Captain soon, so lets give him some love
iv. Bubba Watson – Time for the “long one” to break through
v. JB Holmes – bc he was just STONE COLD at Valhalla
vi. Ian Poulter – ditto JB comment above. Get over the hair, the pink clothes, and the prissy walk – he can flat out get it done
vii. Greg Norman – I’m rooting hard for a comeback from the Shark
viii. Kenny Perry (at a major) – Just to shut up the talking heads on TV who dogged him for skipping majors in 08 to focus on the Ryder Cup ( hey guys on TGG, we did WIN the RC with some great performances from KP,right????)
ix. Rocco - To prove that Torrey was not a fluke
x. Phil – At the US Open (so the aforementioned Talking Heads will STFU about Winged Foot)
(3) For Sergio (who gets his own special wish)– Some humility and class. Sorry dude, I can’t wish for you to win as long as you act like a spoiled, “entitled”, ingrate. Your smile is great, and fools a lot of people – but until you learn to lose with same grace as you win, I will root for anyone but you. (Sorry Golf Girl – I know you like him….).
(4) For Michelle Wie (same as Sergio...her own wish)
-That you play consistently, play hard, don’t whine, and compete fairly on the LPGA tour. If you do that, and actually are competitive, then I may believe you are for real.
-That you IGNORE the PGA tour. You cannot, and never will,be able to, compete with these guys. Your delusions that you could EVER compete with them will keep you from achieving your potential. BTW – I watched Brittany Lincicome BLOW IT PAST you when you were supposed to be in your prime – so get over it …the PGA game is NOT about distance - its about SCORING (another hint - so is the LPGA,)
- That you fire your parents as coaches and advisors. BJ - Dude, get a life...you know golf like I know "nucular bombs"...
(5) For Tim Finchem – Some wisdom..Careful dude, you are about 18 months away from being in the Carolyn B sitch….
(6) For the Golf Girl – a round at “Farmore” and all the golf fashion that you can handle
(7) For the “twentysomething golf blogger” – a return trip to TGC Amateur Nationals- hope to see you there.
(8) For Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey – a bunch of early wins on the Nationwide tour, entry into plenty of PGA events, and the return of your PGA Tour Card
(9)For Amber Prange and Irene Cho – Early success in the Spring events….the future of women's golf needs more players like you.
(10)For Titleist and Callaway – That you kiss and make up regarding the freaking ProV1 patents – come on guys, don’t mess up the game, we already have enough challenges… (dudes at Callaway – you make some good stuff, but Titleist will ALWAYS rule the ball market – deal with it)

LPGA - Why do I like it ???

I willingly confess - I really like the LPGA. That's right - I am a true blue , hard core, keep up with the scores, watch the Solheim Cup, LPGA fan. I've had many of my golf buddies and acquaintances ( and probably lots of others) make fun of me for this, but I cannot help it - I REALLY enjoy watching the game.

Why, you may ask....well, here are a few reasons:

(1) All the players are very fan friendly - autographs, photos, conversations, you name it - they are ALL happy to have fans there cheering for them.
(2) Admit it or not, guys, they play a game a WHOLE lot more like mine and yours that the "big boys" do. If you don't believe me, check out some of these stats:

• Average Driving Distance for the Top 40: 261 yards
• Average Distance for the Courses Played: 6,400 - 6,700 yards
• On the Par 5's , when they "go for it", club they usually hit: 3 wood, 5 wood, or Hybrid ( no 8 irons here)
• They miss a few greens, so they scramble to make par, usually hitting shots from the same places we do ( not 4" high rough, or from behind the clubhouse)
  
• They play on courses that you or I can generally play - see www.rtjgolf.com/courses/capitol_hill/

(3) They hit their clubs a very similar distance to many (most ????) of us - a 7 iron from 150 - 165, a 3 wood from 200 - 235, a PW from 115, etc.
(4) They are really GOOD players

I think all of these add up to one really logical conclusion - many (most) of us can really learn something from watching the ladies of the LPGA play...and that, is something worth paying attention to.

Now, before I get called out for being oblivious to the obvious, YES there is some serious eye candy out there too (Paula, Natalie,Erica, etc - tip of the hat to ya'....)- and that is another great attribute of the tour - just one that I don't want to really focus on in this post.

Anyway, if you are an LPGA fan - let me hear about it - what do you like about the tour ? And if you are not - give it another shot after reading this - maybe you will have a different perspective.