Why Women A Sport for Life by Staci Martin

henever I down subur- ban streets in early spring, I’m amazed at the numbers of golfers Wwilling to brave unpredictable cold fronts and blustery wind to get their first crack at the green after a winter indoors. Their colorful windbreakers and gleaming white carts peek through the trees. It always make me wonder

Meredith Badali, ODU senior, works on her stroke. (Photo by Marshall Hoyle) at the wide appeal of the game of golf.

To the layperson golf is a game with the ultimate goal RELATIONSHIP BUILDING with Coach Pat Kotten, she realized she had a lot of of hitting, as few times as possible, a small white Golf is a game of skill, passion, intellect, and relation- work to do. dimpled ball. You must hit this small white ball across a ships. It allows the player to focus on her own game Although Meredith hadn’t played much golf be- rather long and narrow lawn, swinging a funny-shaped and that of her fellow players. It is an intrinsic game fore, she committed to lessons and training and found steel stick, into a hole—a hole not much bigger than that combines physical work with mental stimulation. herself enjoying the game. “Golf built my confidence a teacup—all the while avoiding tricks and traps like According to the members of the Old Dominion Uni- and helped me make new friendships,” she said. Mer- rough grass, trees, and sand. Never mind the spiked versity Women’s Golf team, it is a game that builds edith put in hours and hours of hard work and found shoes, silly knickers, and patterned socks---golf is inner-strength, confidence, and character—no matter herself, with the support of newfound friends, on the intriguing, if anything. what the player’s level of expertise. Whether you are team and competing in Division 1-A golf as a new Golf lost its appeal for me when I came in last a beginner or seasoned pro, a youngster or retiree, golf player. Building new relationships and strengthening place of all high school players in the entire state of in Hampton Roads offers something for everyone. old ones seems to be a common theme among women Wisconsin. Joining the golf team was meant to placate Meredith Badali, an ODU senior who plays for the golfers in the area. my parents; not wanting to play well was some kind of university’s golf team embodies the spirit of women’s Recently hired by Kay and John-Garret Kemper teenage rebellion—a rebellious act I somewhat regret. golf. She is a confident, spunky young woman out to for a governmental relations position at Kemper Con- Of course, the golf season in Wisconsin is significantly make a difference in the world. Meredith started play- sulting in Norfolk, Meredith attributes the success of shorter than here in Virginia, but lack of practice time ing for the ODU Women’s Golf team due to a chance her interview to her interest in golf. She considers her aside, I simply wasn’t into the game. meeting in the dorm elevator with fellow player Ashley fellow teammates lifelong friends and hopes to play Recently I decided to revisit golf and talk with Davis. “Ashley mentioned there was an opening on golf with them throughout her new career. “Golf is a a few golfers to see if I might be able to rekindle my the team,” she said, “and being impulsive, I decided to game of camaraderie,” Meredith explained. “You can interest in the game. give it a try.” After a session out at the make new friends or plan golf trips with old friends. It 6 MAY 2007 Why Women Golf: A Sport for Life (cont.) is great for relationship building in social circles and in busi- spends a lot of time on the green with her ness.” husband, who’s the golf pro at Lake Wright, Fellow golf team players echoed Meredith’s sentiments on She encourages women to get involved in golf the impact the game of golf has and will continue to have on because, “golf is a sport for life.” Holmes offers their lives. Laura Holmes, another ODU golf team member and lesson and clinics and has clubs and starter sets dual major in sports management and marketing, came from for beginners. She spent three years getting cer- to play college golf. “I love being out on the course,” tified through the PGA program in Florida. she said. “To me, golf is relaxing. It is everything, every day. The Ladies Professional Golf Association I’ve made friends from different universities and got to travel (LPGA) has grown exponentially over the last around. I mean you can play golf anywhere in the world.” few decades. More and more women are trying She plans to try her hand at professional golf in the coming their hand at making a living off the game. Ap- years. parel and equipment endorsements for women players are becoming the norm and playing A SPORT FOR LIFE professionally can open doors into book writ- For most players, the social aspects of golf are a big draw. The ing, commentating, and instructing. opportunity to socialize with bosses, play with old friends, or Susan Vreeland, the women’s golf pro at meet new people in the positive, competitive environment of Owl’s Creek in Virginia Beach considers herself a is certainly better than the same in the neighbor- lucky to have a career in golf and believes it’s hood bar. However, for professionals in the sport, the game is a great way to get the family outdoors, enjoy so much more the fresh air, and get some exercise. “Golf lets Michelle Holmes, the women’s golf pro at Lambert’s Point me get in tune with nature,” she said. “There golf course in Norfolk, began playing golf in Ireland at the are osprey flying overhead, trees in bloom—it age of ten. Soon she joined the juniors’ team and then started is just a wonderful environment.” playing golf for Ireland. Sue offers lessons, clinics, and outings “I come from a golfing family,” Michelle said, “and it is for new golfers including couples lessons, great to get out with friends and family on the course.” She family lessons, or group lessons. She says it is important that beginning golfers use the right equipment and learn the fundaments of posture, stance, and grip. It is okay for beginners to rent or borrow clubs, but you need to make sure that the equipment fits right. There is nothing more Laura Holmes, also on the ODU Women’s Golf team, finds the game frustrating than being too tall and using short relaxing. (Photo by Staci Martin) clubs or vice versa. meetings and outings provide members with an opportunity WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT to network and make social contacts with women golfers of In the early 1950s when women were first be- every level. ginning to enjoy the game of golf, men would “We have clinics for people who have never played golf joke that GOLF meant “Gentlemen Only; and golf outings for people who want to improve their game,” Ladies Forbidden.” However, in the past few Maggie explained. It makes sense to pair beginners with each decades with rising interest in the LPGA and other so that they can explore the game together and build a in local groups like the Executive Women’s shared experience. Sue Vreeland, who is also a member of Golf Association; women are having a greater the EWGA, said, “EGWA is a great way to make friends and impact on the green and golf is having a greater network with people.” impact on women’s lives. In many ways, the Maggie’s mother was an LPGA player back when women golf course has replaced the garden club as the were only allowed on the course after 2 p.m. Maggie started place for women to get together. playing golf as an adult, not because she had an interest in The Executive Women’s Golf Association, the sport, but because she knew it would be a valuable tool founded in 2001, is a volunteer organization for business networking. Now she enjoys getting involved in that exists to provide a welcoming environment charity tournaments, couples’ golf outings with her husband, for women to enjoy the game of golf for busi- and welcoming other women to the game of golf. For Maggie, ness and for life. Maggie Lowery, sponsorship golf added a new fulfilling dimension to her life. chair for Hampton Roads, said, “The Hampton EWGA often holds tournaments at local golf courses, Roads chapter is all about encouraging women special outings to sporting goods stores like Golf Galaxy and Deztany Jackson, an ODU enginneering major, likes to analyze her to get out and learn the game of golf.” EWGA Chico’s, and coordinates special events like the 2007 Women’s swing. (Photos by Staci Martin) The Tan You’ve Always Envied . . . In just 30 minutes! With Waiora,You Can AIRBRUSH TANS by Earn What You’re Worth! Sun Buni Brown Our Team Is Helping Thousands Achieve Financial Freedom. Natural, Gorgeous & Sun Free! Waiora’s growth of $6 –36 million in 2006 indicates 757.407.5491 the incredible demand for our unique patented zeolite detox drops, high-potency liquid nutrient drink, and the purest 100% organic 325 E. 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Golf Week in June and the 2007 Take Your engineering courses to the green. “I love the course. As a beachcomber, I’m used Watch the pros at the Michelob Ultra Daughter to the Course Week in July. to analyze my swing and how the course to sand and water! ■ Open at Kingsmill in Williamsburg from From May 9-13, the EWGA will have an is laid out,” she said. Since her father’s an May 7-13. For information on the event information booth set up at the Kingsmill architect, Deztany hopes they can work For more information: or to buy tickets, visit www.michelobul- LPGA event. Women can stop by and get together one day to design courses or • EGWA Hampton Roads chapter - Call traopen.com. more information about getting involved manufacture sports equipment. 757-430-3812 or visit www.orgsites.com/ with the group. Pat Kotten, coach of the ODU Wom- va/ewga-hamptonroads. Staci Martin is a freelance writer, and en’s Golf Team, believes it’s important • The First program - Visit www. ODU graduate. She lives in Virginia INTELLECTUAL SATISFACTION for women to get involved in all aspects thefirstteehr.org. Beach. For women like me, who have an inter- of the game, including course design. est in golf, but perhaps not the skills to Many older courses were not designed start playing right away, the EGWA has for competitive play among women and a program called SWING, which stands are not as challenging as they could be for “Skillful Women Inspiring New Golf- for very experienced players. However, ers.” It is a mentor program available to for beginners like me, the few extra yards EGWA members that partners them with from the Ladies’ Tee make all the different an experienced golfer. in the world. “Mentors help new players get com- Coach Kotten has encouraged the fortable with the game,” said Maggie members of the ODU women’s golf team Lowery. “Golf appears to be intimidat- to give back to the community through ing, but it is really not.” The goal of the the First Tee program. First Tee is part program is to acquaint new golfers with of the YMCA of South Hampton Roads’ the game—like etiquette, pace of play, and mission to provide low- or no-cost learn- rules of the game. Additional benefits to ing facilities and educational programs to the mentor program include equipment youth interested in golf. Local golfers offer and clothing discounts. Pairing up with an their time and expertise to teach young experienced golfer is a recommendation I people the game along with life skills and heard from many women golfers. leadership skills. It is similar to the EWGA Business and social networking aside, mentor program, but for young people. golf provides an element of intellectual sat- Members of the ODU Women’s Golf isfaction for some players. Deztany Jack- Team and EWGA members are involved son, a sophomore with ODU’s women’s the First Tee program. golf team, is an engineering major who After exploring golf in Tidewater, I started playing golf at the age of nine. found that there is, indeed, hope for me “There used be an ice cream parlor at the and my daughter. We are looking into the driving range so I would just go along with First Tee program and I hope to have an my dad for the ice cream,” she recalled, EWGA mentor lined up by the end of May. “but then I got bored and started hitting I think a few lessons will definitely be in golf balls.” order. I’m looking forward to wearing a Deztany satisfies her intellectual trendy windbreaker, spiky shoes, renting curiosity by applying her physics and some clubs, and finding my way around (Approval # ST0506C05AA) (Approval # ST0506C05AB)

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