A CAPTAIN FOR CHICAGO Beth Daniel will have a home-course advantage on her side when her U.S. Solheim Cup team swings into action at Rich Harvest Farms GETTY IMAGES/JONATHAN FERREY GETTY IMAGES/JONATHAN Beth Daniel knows all about Rich Harvest Farms; she’s a member there. By Amy Parker CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER: How are preparations coming he Solheim Cup, to be played at Rich Harvest along? Farms in Sugar Grove, Aug. 17-23, is quickly BETH DANIEL: Chicago is my second home. I’ve been here so approaching, but U.S. captain Beth Daniel is right much lately and I’m really looking forward to the event in T on track. With most of the organizing under way, August. It’s moving a little too fast for me. We have so much she’s ready to focus on her team and hopes to pull off another more to do, but since I’ve been named the captain—it was win for the United States. She spoke of her captaincy, and early December 2007—it’s pretty much been a full-time job what’s ahead, during a visit to the Chicago Golf Show. since then, just organizing everything. It’s been a lot of fun 36 | CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER WWW.CDGA.ORG BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW Suzann Pettersen Paula Creamer For Tickets or Hotels Call 1-866-848-4639 or visit www.solheimcup.com Passion for Country. Passion For Golf. and a huge privilege to be captain of CDG: What were the early Solheim Cups this team. It’s shaping up to look like a like? very exciting event. BD: In 1990, at the first Solheim Cup, we played at Lake Nona in Orlando and I CDG: You played in eight Solheim was a member of that team. We only had Cups. What is your most vivid eight players per team at that point; now memory? we have 12. Kathy Whitworth was the BD: That’s tough because there have captain. It was a big event for us, but it been so many. When Rosie (Jones) was more or less an exhibition to kind of made that putt on the 18th hole at introduce Europe . to women’s golf. Crooked Stick (2005), all the way Then two years later, we went over to across the green, I had finished my Scotland to play at Dalmahoy and match and was sitting there watching. Europe beat the United States, which I When Juli Inkster made that putt at think kind of helped to put it (The Muirfield (1998), that was the one Solheim Cup) on the map a little bit, Solheim Cup I did not make. I was a particularly in Europe. spectator and was standing right there AP PHOTO/ANN HEISENFELT and watched her make that putt and CDG: How is the Solheim Cup different dance around the green. But I think the than other tournaments? memories that are most vivid to me are BD: It’s a unique event, very different the memories that are not on the golf than probably any tournament you’ve course. They’re memories from the ever been to, and it’s even different than locker room, memories from the team the Ryder Cup. There’s a lot of gallery room. Those are the things that stick Beth Daniel knows all about the Solheim participation, with chanting and singing with you throughout the years. Cup; she’s played on eight U.S. teams. on the first tee and all the way around the course. There’s a lot of energy out there; I liken it to playing golf in what is almost a football atmosphere. Golfers like it quiet with no one moving, and that just doesn’t happen, but you get used to it. CDG: How much has the Solheim Cup gained in popularity over the years? BD: When we played in Scotland, we drew big galleries, but nothing like we’ve drawn in recent years. I think probably our biggest gallery that I can remember in recent history was when we played at Barsebäck in Sweden, which will now be three Solheim Cups ago. I had never seen that many people on a golf course in my life. We drew really well at Crooked Stick, probably equally as well, and then in Sweden in 2007. So it’s fun when you’re playing in front of that many people and they’re vocal about it and very into it. CDG: You’ve played for many different captains. Is there something you’ll take from each of them to help formulate your own ideas? BD: I have played for all the captains except for Betsy King, the last captain, and I’ve talked to all of them numerous times since I was named captain of the team. They’ve been very helpful in their own ways in things that I’m going through, anything from planning meals to planning the calendar for the week and strategy. I’ve talked to all of them about their various strategies and will talk to certain captains some more. So, yes, I am pulling a lot from past captains and I hope that will help me in my quest to be a winning captain. 38 | CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER WWW.CDGA.ORG CDG: As a member of Rich Harvest first event she played in this year, the Farms, how much course knowledge The Solheim Cup SBS Open in Hawaii, where she do you have that a player won’t be able finished second. She played very well to get in a couple of practice days When: Aug. 17-23 and I think her golf game, which we there? saw at the end of last year, is starting to Where: Rich Harvest Farms, Sugar Grove, Ill. BD: I’ve played the golf course probably turn back around again. She’s 20 times or so and I know it pretty well, Tickets: 866-848-4936 or at enthusiastic about playing golf again. I but I don’t know if I’d be able to pass on www.solheim-tickets.com think there was a point she was not that much personal knowledge. A little Format: Three-day match play competition enthusiastic about the game. She’d bit, but it’s a course that you definitely featuring two 12-person teams of female been pushed in so many directions as a professionals, one from the United States have to see to play it well. versus a team from Europe. kid and at some point in time you just say, ‘Forget it, I could care less about CDG: How difficult will Rich Harvest Schedule: Thursday, opening ceremony. Friday and Saturday, the first of four four-ball matches playing or not.’ I think now she has Farms play? start at 8 a.m., the first of four foursomes that desire and drive since this year BD: It is a fantastic golf course and it will matches start at 1:15 p.m. Sunday, singles with double points she jumped into prove very difficult to play. It’s heavily matches start at 10 a.m., and the closing 30th place from no place in one ceremony takes place approximately 30 minutes tree-lined, very tight, and it will require after the conclusion of the last match. tournament. good shot-making in order to play well. I think it sets up perfectly for match 2007 result: At Halmstad Golf Club in Sweden, CDG: Are there any other rookies that the United States defeated Europe, 16-12. play. Personally, I would never want to stand out to you? play a stroke play tournament on this Series: The U.S. leads, 7-3. BD: I’ll add that there are two others, golf course because I’m not sure if I 2011 Solheim Cup site: Killeen Castle, County American rookies, that we all need to would ever finish. There’s trouble Meath, Ireland look out for. One of them is Stacy everywhere. Lewis, who finished third in the U.S. Women’s Open last year, and Vicky CDG: As a match play competition, is it Hurst, who, I believe, is just 18 years going to play more like a Women’s Open course? old, but she won five times on the Futures Tour last year. I BD: I think a lot of how the course will play depends on the think all three of these rookies (including Wie) are out there weather. If it’s a warm, dry summer, I think the golf course will and all three finished in the top 20 in the first event they play extremely difficult and it will play very much like a played in as rookies. I think they’re a very impressive class Women’s Open course. If we have rain, obviously the course and I’ll be looking at them pretty seriously throughout the will be softer. The softer the fairways, the wider the fairways year. become and the bigger the greens become, so it’s easier to hit your target that way. So the weather will determine a lot of CDG: Do you think any other rookies will make the team on that, but I know Jerry Rich very well, and even though the points? LPGA and Ladies European Tour will set up the golf course, BD: It will be difficult for them, not because of the points, but I’m sure Jerry will be in their ear, trying to set it up as tough as because of the schedule. Rookies won’t have as many he can.