It’s Women’s Golf Month

JUNE IS WOMEN’S GOLF MONTH, which reminds me that I need to return Anne’s golf clubs. Anne is a family friend who loaned her clubs to my oldest daughter a couple of years ago. Anne wasn’t using them and my daughter was signed up for a junior golf clinic. Since then the clubs have been collecting dust in my basement. Beth didn’t take to the game. She still favors the swimming pool over the golf course at Great Oaks Country Club.

But, as I understand it, Anne is planning a return to the game. I don’t think she is a real serious golfer. She just hopes to get out this summer for some recreational golf with her friend Julie. That’s good news. Every new or returning golfer is welcome news for a game that has been in slow decline. Only about one in four golfers are women.

This month, as part of several ongoing Play Golf America initiatives, golf facilities across America are hosting affordable golf activities that target the female golfer. They’re designed to make the game fun and women-friendly for beginning, casual and avid golfers.

None of the three females in my household play golf. My daughter Beth was (and is) probably the best bet of the three, but she’s far more interested in the creative arts than sports. She is heavily invested in chorus and drama. My other daughter is a budding artist. My wife’s father was gone most every weekend playing golf. So my wife has no interest in picking up a club.

Beth, on the other hand, has natural athletic ability. I think she could enjoy golf and play well. But I don’t push. Not my style.

So, alas, my household isn’t currently adding to the number of female golfers. But I still encourage all you other ladies to give the game a chance (or another chance). It’s a great game and can be a lot of fun if you don’t take it too seriously.

Win prizes and get more information:
Enter women’s golf month sweepstakes
Women’s Play Golf America Days
Take you daughter to the course week
Executive Women’s Golf Association

−The Armchair Golfer

2011 Memorial Tournament TV Schedule and Tournament Notes

THE 2011 MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT is underway at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. Chris Riley is the early leader after shooting a 6-under 66. The first round is still in progress.



Purse: $6.2 million
Winner’s share: $1.116 million
Defending champion: Justin Rose



2011 Memorial Tournament Leaderboard

Field
Course
Tee times
Interviews
Tournament overview
Tournament news
Tour report
Memorial Tournament website


TV SCHEDULE

TV coverage of the 2011 Memorial Tournament is on Golf Channel and CBS.

Thu, 6/2:
GOLF 3p - 6p ET

Fri, 6/3:
GOLF 3p - 6p ET

Sat, 6/4:
CBS 3p - 6p ET

Sun, 6/5:
CBS 2:30p - 6p ET

SIRIUS-XM broadcast times


−The Armchair Golfer

Nick Price, Ambassador of Golf

CHAMPIONS TOUR PLAYER NICK PRICE has been named the 2011 Ambassador of Golf by Northern Ohio Golf Charities. Ambassador of Golf is an annual award given to a person who epitomizes the ideals of the game and demonstrates concerns for others on and off the golf course. Still very much an active player, Price was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003 and is someone who has been described as the nicest guy you’d ever want to meet.

“Nick has been a world-class player for more than four decades and has truly been an international ambassador for the game of golf,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem. “With 29 international victories in addition to his 18 wins on the PGA Tour, Nick has helped to grow the game and give back to those less fortunate since turning professional in 1977.”

Price said he was extremely honored to be the recipient of the award. “It has been a privilege for me to have played golf professionally throughout the world and I hope that I not only inspired young golfers along the way, but also set an example for them to follow as did those before me.”

Price will be honored in a ceremony at Firestone Country Club on August 3 during the Bridgestone Invitational.

Three of Nick’s career victories were majors: two PGA Championships and a British Open. He won two of them back to back when he took both the British Open and PGA Championship in 1994. As noted here yesterday, he was ranked No. 1 in the world for nearly a year.

The wins have slowed down, but Price continues to display the long game that helped make him the game’s best player in the early 1990s. He has won four times since joining the Champions Tour, including this year’s Toshiba Classic.

−The Armchair Golfer

(Photo credit: Keith Allison, Flickr, Creative Commons license)