Last spring, Bob decided he really wanted to join a small private country club that is five minutes from our house – Montclair Country Club .  He had always wanted to join this club – mainly because of the location: so close, no traffic, the restaurant had a very good reputation and the course always looked like it was in good shape from what we could see from the street. What more could you ask for?  So we did.

And all of the above is true:  location, food and course.  But the one thing we didn’t count on that came as a complete surprise to both of us was the Montclair Ladies’ Golf Association (MLGA).

I have always wanted to play in a ladies league but it never seemed to work out.  Most leagues were during the week – when I have to work.    So when Bob told me Montclair had a ladies league on Tuesday’s AND every Saturday, I was thrilled. 

I thought I was going to find a group of women who had a nice little ad hoc league that tee’d off around 11:00 a.m. – following after the big boys.  What I found was the most organized ladies group I’ve ever seen – more than most men’s groups. Handicaps, tournaments, member-guests, skins, Board of Directors – the works.  MLGA also garners the respect of the golf club management and the men’s league.  No second class tee-times, no patronizing the “little ladies” and certainly no man challenging their right to be there.  On a Saturday morning. At 8:00 a.m.  The same time as the men’s league. The MLGA doesn’t follow the men. 

 I was simply amazed at this group of women which spans all ages and handicaps. Some women are more competitive than others.  Some are beginners and some have been playing for almost 40 years. How did this happen that this group is so strong and respected that their place is not behind the men?  Because in my golfing experience, it is unique to have such an organized woman’s league that plays on Saturday’s during prime time and isn’t subjected to some lousy tee-time during the week so they don’t get in the men’s way!

I had the good luck to sit next to Bernie Drohan at the holiday banquet and she told me the whole story of how back in 1975 she started the MLGA. It did start with a small group on Tuesday’s but grew to the point (now 60 members +) that the Saturday group was added for those who couldn’t play during the week. 

Bernie got it up and running and has been on the Board of Directors every year until 2010.  In the beginning there were only about 25 women and when they had their first banquet, they had to buy the silverware and table cloths for the club house tables.  They had their act so together during that first year, they were able to pull off their first member-guest tournament. Now, 36 years later, this women’s club plays a tournament every week.

What so impressed me was Bernie’s moxie. We are talking 1975 when golf was mainly a man’s sport and the golf club was mainly a man’s playground.  Women were playing – but were not nearly as supported as they are now. There was allot of discrimination against woman and minorities at private clubs (Augusta National, anyone!!!) Women were welcome – just as long as they didn’t get in the way.

But none of that even seemed to phase Bernie.  I don’t know if she didn’t know women were being discriminated against on the golf course,  just didn’t care or simply wasn’t going to stand for it. Most likely the latter – she is a pistol!  She was starting this league and it was going be on equal footing as the men’s club.  A proper ladies golf league.  And it was and it still is.

MLGA is awesome.  Every single lady welcomed me, was friendly and made me feel at home in their group.  Now that I know the history behind MLGA, I love it even more.  MLGA’s foundation started with one woman who gathered a handful of women who have turned into vibrant group who love to play golf.  They not only hold tournaments – they hold their own.

Wow … very exciting!  For those of  you who know Patty Atkins as the Women on Course LPGA teaching pro extraordinnaire and amazing Ambassador of ladies golf, you will be thrilled to know that  she was featured on TV!    She was on the LA Fox Morning Show this past Monday featuring “Women and Golf” with reporter Heather Ford.

They did two 5-minute segments and covered various topics, such as why women should play golf, business golf tips, club fitting, couples communication on the course and golf fitness.

She then gave Heather a short golf lesson and in just a few minutes greatly improved Heather’s swing!  Go Patty!

Patty will be at Amelia Island for our February 3-day Weekend and will be heading up the golf school portion of the weekend.  If you want to kick your game up a notch and want Patty to help – sign up for Amelia now!

Watch the segment!  http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/morningnews/ Below the main video icon – scroll through the videos until you see the one that says “Heather takes a swing at indoor golf”

Lahinch Golf Club

The day  was so cold, windy and rainy that I didn’t stand a chance to get our potted plants into the ground.

Although we had signed up to play in the newly organized Friday evening “Social/Mixed” golf at Lahinch, I wondered aloud to my life partner, Kevin, would we have to play in this weather?  He said if the other couple want to play, then we have to play.  And play we did.  To prepare for the cold, I dressed in 4 layers and looked like I was headed to the North Pole. The other 3 had on shirts and shorts and looked like they were going to a tiki bar in Florida.  I kid you not!

We fortified ourselves with a bowl of soup and packed our waterproofs into our golf bags. Thankfully, the rain eased up and we went out to play with Margery and Brendan. Although we played in a 3-club wind at Portmarnock a few days earlier, this wind felt more fierce. Especially on the first hole, which is all uphill to a small elevated green – and actually, on every hole after that!

On the par-3 eleventh hole, Brendan,  a 9 handicap, walked up on the tee box and simply said “I don’t know.” His tee shot was in play, but none of our balls stayed on the green. The wind was a factor on every putt as well. The last time I played this hole at Lahinch, I birdied it, so I had a bit more confidence.  I think we escaped with a 5, but for the other team, it was a blank on the card.

With all the battling of the elements, one of the nicest things about playing with Irish golfers is is the same thing I like about womens golf,  I never feel as though I am battling with them personally. There may be a fiver, a pint, or a social-mixed-winner title (and some Euros!) on the line, but instead of tension, there are smiles, stories, and camaraderie as we walk to each tee and play each hole.

It is a pure links golf experience. There are no range finders, no GPS. The yardage is usually on a marker on each tee box, and there may be a 150 yard post on the edge of the fairway, or some embedded disks indicating 200, 150 and 100 yards to the green. You have to use your imagination and work it out for yourself what club to use.  A white stone may be your aiming point on a blind hole. On the famous “Dell,” the blind par-3 fifth hole at Lahinch, the stone is moved every day as the hole is cut in a different part of the green.

The more I play here, the more I marvel at the unique challenge that each hole presents. On a calm day, it is a magical stage of 18 dramas. Add the wind, and you feel more like a warrior—and a winner for just getting around the course.  Now where is that Tiki bar???   I am ready for a Mai Tai!

Taba Dale is a self proclaimed Golf Geek, learner and lover of Golf.  Author, writer/producer of the upcoming TV documentary series “Legacy of the Links”, dealer of fine golf art, and President of Premier Golf Travel, and  of Brian Morgan Golf, Taba (Pronounced Tay-ba, like the River Tay) can be found at www.ScottsdaleCollection.com & at www.BrianMorganGolf.com.

La Costa Resort & Spa

Where can women golfers go in the middle of summer to find the most perfect golf weather in the country?  Forty two women traveled for an unforgettable three day ladies golf experience at the La Costa Resort and Spa on July 30, 2010.

Hosted by Women on Course, members enjoyed meeting new friends, golf on some incredible holes, contests, food, wine, fashion shows, golf clinics and plenty of gifts and surprises along the way.

Callaway Golf provided a special treat when they previewed the new 2011 fashion line, and brought the latest equipment for women to try.  The first 20 women who signed up for the weekend received a club of their choice!  Spokesperson Debbie Keller, wowed the ladies with an entertaining swing demonstration that ended by hitting a golf ball off a tee held in the mouth of an unsuspecting teen!

At the farewell breakfast each guest had a minute to reflect upon her favorite memory of the experience that was meet with laughter, thoughtfulness and a sense of empowerment of all that was accomplished.

So where to next?  Pack your golf clubs and attend the first ever Three Day Golf School Experience at Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage, CA on November 11 to 13, 2010.

And don’t forget to bookmark the Women on Course calendar to keep abreast of all of the fun activities across the country!

Free Trip to The Masters!

Never before has a Master’s Tournament been on the radar screen of so many people. Tiger’s return to golf is obviously going to be the big attraction and will garner the attention of more that just the average golf fan.  People will be watching either to see the “Tiger Golf Magic” once again or to see him fail miserably.  But no matter what the motivation, this tournament is going to be big, exciting and loaded with a lot of emotion.

Augusta is THE course to go to and has a mystic about it that not many other courses have.  Not many of us have the option to go either.  The tickets are hard to come by and are very expensive. This year, with You Know Who being there, it will be even tougher.  BUT……………………..

LPGA Star Cristie Kerr is hosting a raffle and all proceeds will go to Cristie’s charity, Birdies for Breast Cancer.  The prize is a trip to the Masters for two including first-class air fare, accommodations and all transportation plus two badges for the weekend of Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11.  SWEET!  The tickets are only $2.00 with a $10.00 minimum.  Why not take the chance? Someone has to win and it might as well be me………. OOPS, I mean YOU! 

Enter right here, and if you do win I want to hear about every single detail of the trip!

A golf course in Russellville, AL has a very interesting ad campaign.  And whether or not this makes you want to play the course or not, it is certainly a good laugh!  An excellent way to end the work week and start the week-end.  Unfortunately for many of us ladies, we will be a witness to this very same situation!!!