I love coats because when they are well done, they finish a great outfit, or on a not so stylish day, hide the evidence.  Finding a good-looking golf jacket can be likened to searching for a needle in a haystack, but not today.  Here are my favorite winter golfing jackets that don’t skimp on functionality or style.

Le Romantique 

This coat wasn’t necessarily designed for golf, but it is so brilliant that it’s perfect for our favorite game.  Le Romantique  is rain, water, and windproof, made from a lightweight eco-friendly fabric that wicks.  Inside are a few surprises…Your phone has it’s own pocket (that protects you from microwaves and radiation but doesn’t interfere with reception)  and so does your lip gloss and cash, hidden within the sleeve.  And to make sure no one is left out in the cold, your fingers have little reflective warmers as well.  It also has a hood, a two-way zipper and a very flattering silhouette with a slightly longer back to keep your backside dry while swinging.  It comes in four colors:  midnight, latte, noir, and turmeric.  If they aren’t savvy enough for you thus far, these coats are also the official outerwear of the Royal Danish Ballet.  $695 at WrapHabillement.com

Sunice’s Amberley 

Sunice was originally a skiwear company but they delved into golf outerwear in 1992.  As the official outwear sponsor for the 2012 Ryder Cup team, they are making their way into the mainstream.  Their waterproof clothes have a lifetime guarantee and are crafted to stand up to the elements.  The Amberley Jacket is ultra-lightweight in addition to being water and windproof.  With an interior waist-cinching system and well-placed princess seams, this jacket will look good as well as keep you dry. Comes in white or black. $300 at Golf4Her.com

LIJA’s Wind Force Jacket 

LIJA’s Wind Force Jacket is not only cute but stands up to the elements.  The gathered waist will look good on nearly anyone and the off-white color is a nice change from black.  Made of nylon, this compact jacket is wind and water-resistant.  $130 at LIJA.com

Abacus’ Formby Jacket 

Based in Sweden and supplier to the European Ryder & Solheim Cup teams, Abacus has  a classic style with modern functionality.  Their Formby  Softshell jacket has a fleece interior for an extra layer of warmth and is wind and waterproof.  It has a sleeve pocket for cash and ID as well as two front pockets.  There’s even a soft liner on the inside of the neck so you don’t get makeup on the collar.  Also has coordinating pants.  $150 at Golf4Her.com

Elizabeth Noblitt is the founder of Shi Shi Putter™ an online resource for women golfers who play like their style depends on it—on & off the golf course.

Eagle Golf, a Dallas-based golf management company, announces a new partnership with Women on Course (WOC), a national organization that provides high quality events which allow women to participate in the golf lifestyle in a warm, welcoming environment. WOC’s commitment to generate greater participation in the game through events and social engagements among women is in sync with Eagle Golf.

Eagle Golf saw this alliance as an opportunity to grow the game of golf and therefore reached out to Donna Hoffman, Founder and President of Women on Course, to form a partnership with preferred offerings for the WOC Members at Eagle Golf properties in cities with WOC communities such as Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Phoenix and more.

“I am impressed by the universal support Eagle Golf is providing to open their doors to welcome women into the golf lifestyle. Our partnership will allow us to provide our members with opportunities to play and learn where the focus is on friendships and fun,” Hoffman said.

According to the National Golf Foundation in 2009, 27.1 million people were playing golf. In 2010, that number dropped to 26.1 million. In fact, the number has declined over the past three years.

“It has always been our desire to introduce more women to the game of golf and increase the participation of those who already play or are looking to return to the game in a welcoming and non-intimidating environment,” said Joe Munsch, President and CEO of Eagle Golf. “We appreciate the approach Women on Course takes to engage women through all aspects of the golf lifestyle, including fashion, fitness, networking, socializing and usually, a glass of wine to end a day of fun.”

Women interested in learning more about Women on Course are invited to visit http://www.womenoncourse.com. Eagle Golf is excited about the positive future impact this venture will have on women becoming more involved in the game in addition to the existing Women’s Golf Associations, Ladies Play Days, Women’s Clinics, Ladies Lite Leagues and more.

About Eagle Golf
Evergreen Alliance Golf Limited, LP (Eagle Golf) is the sixth largest golf course management company in the United States and has been in operation for more than 28 years. The company provides a full suite of best in class golf course management services to 70 golf courses located in major metropolitan areas in 13 states around the country, including Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, and Chicago. The golf course portfolio that Eagle manages generates more than 3.5 million rounds of golf annually or close to 1% of the total rounds played in America every year. Eagle Golf’s portfolio includes 18 private country clubs and 52 properties that are either classified as premium or moderately priced daily fee golf courses, such as Ruffled Feathers in Lemont, Ill., Arrowhead Golf Course in Littleton, Colo., and the Cowboys Golf Club in Grapevine, Texas, which is the world’s only NFL-themed golf course.

Hydrate: Our bodies become dehydrated as the weather warms up. Develop a schedule of drinking water on a regular basis. Start by drinking several glasses on an empty stomach when you get up in the morning. This replenishes the water your body loses overnight. Continue to re-hydrate with a glass of water every two hours throughout the day. Before bed, you can also re-hydrate by soaking in a tepid bath each day. Never use hot water for as it will over dry your skin.

Go Light: change up your moisturizer and use a light weight moisturizer as the weather warms.

Skin Protection: Protect eyes, neck and hands! Eyes are ultra sensitive because the area lacks oil glands which protect against burning. Wear a hat and sunglasses when you can to protect this area. Protect your neck by applying a special neck creme with a high SPF and apply often as this area rubs off more frequently. Always apply a high SPF to your hands and re apply often because this is the most used part of the body.

As temperatures soar this summer you may be temped to skip a few midday rounds of golf, but don’t miss out until fall.  As you stand over your August tee shot it’s easy to get distracted from your game.  With slippery hands from a fresh application of sunscreen, and those pesky gnats zooming around your head, no wonder the ball is going anywhere but on target.

With a little advance preparation, make your summer golf outing more enjoyable, and save a bundle buying last minute supplies in the pro shop.

Every summer golf bag should be stocked with items to help keep you cool and comfortable during your round.  And speaking of bags, consider swapping out to a lightweight bag with a built in cooler for beverages.

Sunscreen: Never leave home without it!  It is recommended that you apply a sweat-resistant sunscreen for every hour in the sun.  Protected skin will feel cooler then burned skin.  Spray applicators will to keep your hands dry when you reapply.

Spray Bottle/Portable Fan: Create your own ‘beach effect’ with a small spray bottle and a hand-held battery-operated fan.  If you feel overheated, spritz some water into the fan and cool your face, arms and legs.

Hats: It’s amazing how much cooler a hat will make feel without the sun beating into your eyes and face.  For double duty comfort, spray a bit of Bug Repellant on the brim of your hat to ward of insects.

Hydration: Be sure to drink plenty of water, which will be chilled if your golf bag has a handy cooler built in.  Sorry, alcoholic beverages don’t count as a hydration choice.  It is recommended to have at least one bottle of water for each alcoholic drink.

Snacks: Pack some light snacks such as water heavy fruits (grapes, watermelon, peaches) as well as nuts and energy bars to help keep you from feeling sluggish.  Be sure your trail mix is chocolate-free which will quickly melt in your golf bag.

Umbrella: Shady spots can be as much as 15 degrees cooler than the sun, and not all courses are lined with trees.  If you’re spending time walking or waiting on the course in the blazing sun, an umbrella will provide yourself some instant relief.

Grip Lotion: For an alternative to a hot leather glove, pack a bottle of a no sweat grip lotion.  Spray on your hand and it quickly turns powdery to give your hand a nice dry grip on your club.

Some tips for beginners:

Make Your First On Course Experiences Successful

• Prepare and Prepare Again:  Many new players do not realize all the rules, etiquette and skills necessary to have fun on the golf course.   The golf course (and your fellow players) expect you to have mastered a certain degree of knowledge and skill.  Be sure you have the appropriate equipment, basic knowledge of the game and hours logged at the practice range before you venture onto the course.

• Play Golf with a Mentor:  It seems so easy on the driving range, but once you get on the course there are layers of rules and etiquette expected of you.  Bring an experienced golfer to help you navigate the course and keep a proper pace of play.  Look for Women on Course Mentored ‘Nine & Wine’ Events (link to http://www.womenoncourse.com/events.php) which are designed to help golfers become course ready.

• Book a Late Afternoon Tee Time:  Summer means longer days and more available tee times.  Many courses offer lower ‘twilight rates’ when you book tee times in the late afternoon.  Not only will you save a few dollars, but typically courses are not as crowded so you might not have golfers playing right behind you, which can feel intimidating for the new golfer.

• Bring a Dozen Golf Balls:  Not all new golfers realize that this game often requires more than one ball to play a round of golf!  Searching for lost balls and fishing them out of the water takes up valuable time.  Best to bring at least a dozen and hope for the best.

Annika Sorenstam

For centuries, women have been fixtures in the game of golf. As the bruised economy slowly rebounds, the sport is gradually gaining momentum again—and a big part of that is due to the interest, skill, and enthusiasm of female players. Golf is a widely accessible activity, appealing to girls and women of all ages, races, body types, and occupations.

Which female golfers have helped to shape the sport? There are countless examples, but we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite females to ever dominate the green.

10. Louise Suggs: Winner of the U.S. Open in 1994 with only 14 strokes, Suggs has walked away with 58 tour victories and 11 major championships in the 1940′s and 50′s. She is known for her quote: “Golf is very much like a love affair. If you don’t take it seriously, it’s no fun, but if you do, it breaks your heart. Don’t break your heart, but flirt with the possibility.”

9. Betsy King: After touring for seven years (1977-1983) without a single win, King went on to sweep the Women’s Kemper Open in 1984. Over the next five years, she garnered a total of 20 LGPA events. King is renowned for her position as the first career golfer to break the $5 million and $6 million earning markers.

8. Patty Berg: Winner of the very first Women’s Open in 1946, Berg was a professional golfer even before the founding of the LGPA Tour. She was then victorious in a record 15 major championships.

7. JoAnne Carner: Although Carner got somewhat of a late start—not going pro until her thirties—she went on to become a golf legend and to claim 43 tour victories. In 2004, 64-year-old Carner became the oldest player to make the cut at an LGPA tournament.

6. Karrie Webb: A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, Web was one of the most famous female golfers of the late 90′s and early 2000′s. She has won seven major championships and holds world records.

5. Babe Didrikson Zaharias: After trying her hand at basketball, baseball, swimming, tennis, and an assortment of other sports, Zaharias took up golf. This sports hero won gold and silver Olympic medals in track and played in four PGA tournaments against men, making the cut in three. Zaharias was a co-founder of the LPGA.

4. Nancy Lopez: The forerunner of her contemporaries, Lopez won 48 tour victories in the 1970′s and 80′s. She’s known for her quote: “The simpler I keep things, the better I play.”

3. Mickey Wright: Winner of 82 tour victories and 13 major championship victories between 1956 and 1969, Wright is unarguably one of the sport’s highest-performing female players. She was quoted as saying, “When I play my best golf, I feel as if I’m in a fog, standing back watching the earth in orbit with a golf club in my hands.”

2. Kathy Whitworth: One of the top female golfers, Whitworth holds the record as winner of the most LGPA Tour events—in fact, she’s snagged more awards than any male golfer has won on any other tour.

1. Annika Sorenstam: Although Sorenstam doesn’t have as many wins as some of the other golfers on this list (she’s won 72 LPGA victories and 10 major championships), she takes our top spot because she earned those victories against some of the sport’s most competitive women players. Sorenstam is also credited with shooting the lowest round in LPGA history, tying Nancy Lopez for the longest LPGA winning streak and Mickey Wright for most wins in two consecutive seasons.

What do you think? Which female golfers would you add to the list?

Post provided by East Coast Golf Sales. We specialize in selling women’s only golf equipment including clubs, gloves, visors, crystal golf balls and all other ladies golf accessories.

Go Girl FUD

I recently read a blurb in Golf Digest about a female urination device (FUD) made by Go Girl.  It is a product that a woman can use to urinate without having to squat. You use an FUD while standing erect.   It is shaped somewhat like a funnel and “directs” the urine away from the feet in a similar fashion as our male counterparts.

Yikes. 

Now,  in the element of full disclosure I will admit I have NOT tried a FUD so I have no experience to base a decision on whether or not this is a product that would work for me.  I will say, I’m a little wary about it and I’m probably not rushing out to buy one.  It just seems…………messy.   

There probably isn’t a woman out there who plays golf, or any other active sport,  who isn’t somewhat envious of men who can use a private little space on the course as a bathroom.  We’ve all seen men take a little trip into the woods only to return looking less frantic and very relaxed.  I’ll admit, when I need “relief”, I can barely concentrate on anything else:  where is the next porta potty or bathroom?  How many holes do I have to play before I get to it?  It affects my whole game.  The same thing happens when I’m hungry – I can hardly keep it together.  And yes, I have been known to find that private little space on the course when waiting is just not an option and yes:  squat.  However, that can be difficult and sometimes even impossible.

But a FUD:  I’m just not sure.  I was curious enough about the Go Girl that I went to Wikipedia  to learn more – and there was much more to learn, for sure!  FUD’s were patented back in 1922, are used in France and the Netherlands and there at least seven manufacturers of them. Who knew????!!!!   

I’m really curious if anyone has ever used one.  I know the Go Girl device includes a little bag that you place it in when you are finished and you can use it over and over. You can even wash it in the dishwasher. Maybe I’m doing myself a huge disservice by NOT trying one immediately. Maybe a FUD is something that once I use it, I’ll wonder how I ever lived without one.