This week The San Diego Union-Tribune published a wonderful article about Women On Course and I was, once again, reminded of the power Women on Course, our members and our mission!  

The article highlights three women:  Francie, Lindsey and Megan. Francine tried playing golf years ago and quit because she got so frustrated (sounds familiar!) She ended up at a WOC event with a friend and decided to try again.  Learning the golf swing isn’t any easier but Francie found the camaraderie of other women experiencing the same learning curve and empowering to commiserate together about successes and struggles with a fabulous glass of wine in hand.

Lindsey just started playing golf and wanted to meet women who are at the beginning stages of learning to play. WOC offered her a group of professional women at the same stage of their golf journey. Megan was so shy and nervous when she started playing, she loved finding the friendly faces at WOC events.  

WOC now has over 1,500 Francie’s, Lindsey’s and Megan’s in 30 cities! Women who want to learn to play golf, understand the etiquette and to use golf for networking and business.  Women on Course has never been about getting women into competitive leagues but gravitates more toward our signature events with equipment demonstrations, 9-hole play, clinics with LPGA pros and guest speakers on business golf, health and money management. 

WOC helps confident women to be confident on the golf course, regardless of what the motivation is to play the game.

You gotta get you some!!!

I can tell I’m getting older because these days I find having life insurance, long term care and disability policies much much sexier than a push-up bra!

MassMutual Financial Group is one of the major sponsors of Women on Course and Mary Grate-Pyos is the VA/MD/DC area agent.  She is a wonderful woman and I have always enjoyed seeing her at events.  Bob is retiring in January 2011 and we are moving into a difference phase of our life together so we decided to meet with Mary and have her evaluate our financial situation.  I wanted to know what would happen if either Bob or I got sick, disabled or died.  I know that isn’t a jazzy subject – but let’s face it – “you know what” happens and it happens to all of us.  I don’t want to be one of those women who doesn’t know what path my life would take if my husband got sick or passed away. I don’t want to wait until it is too late to make the right decisions concerning my own care.

And I’m glad I did because there was so much I didn’t understand, didn’t know and didn’t have. However, my total ‘Ah-Ha” moment came when Mary pointed out to me that even though I have excellent benefits from my employer – and they are – if I were to become disabled, I would only receive 60% of my salary. Well, I knew this.  What I didn’t know was that I would not start receiving disability payments for six months after I would be declared disabled.  Ok – what the heck would I have done for money for at least six months??!!!! How would I have paid my bills and be sick at the same time?  I absolutely got goose bumps because I realized I would have had to rack up a lot of debt and deplete my savings just to hold on. I could not believe how vulnerable I had been for so many years.   

There was coverage Bob and I have that is awesome and other areas that was not so awesome.  There were areas where we are strongly protected and areas were we had no protection at all – which was really scary. Bob and I can now look at our future and know exactly what will happen if something really uncool happens to either one of us.  I’ve got his back and he’s got mine and THAT, by far, is a total turn-on.

MassMutual is committed to creating financial security and protection for today and in the future but all their wonderful products and all the expertise that Mary (one of the smartest women I have ever met) brings to the table wasn’t doing me any good until I decided I needed to step up and take control.  Let’s face it: we simply can’t control fate.  We can only control how prepared we are for fate.  And, unfortunately, I think there are a lot of women out there that just aren’t prepared.  Like me, a lot of women thought they had all the time in the world to worry about “stuff” or that they really understand their benefits. WRONG. 

Women have taken so much control of so many areas of our lives:  money, career, family, sex, education.  Financial PROTECTION seems to be the last frontier but one of the most important ones. This is definitely one area where you need to know whatcha got and whatcha don’t! Knowledge is Power and in this case  – security and peace of mind. 

Mary Grate-Pyos
703.593.8388
mgrate-pyos@finsvcs.com

Donating to the Artemis House!

There is nothing better than a group of women getting together to golf, network, have some munchies and cocktails.  Add into that equation a contribution of $400 for a shelter that serves women and children and………….well, I guess it can get a lot better!

This week a group from Women on Course and Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW)  Northern Virginia hosted an event at Top Golf .  Well, if you have never been to Top Golf, it is an awesome place to have a social gathering.  It is the MAC-DADDY of all driving ranges where the range balls have computerized microchips to track all your shots on a huge leader board. While competing with the rest of the place (or not !!), you can have great food, drinks and entertainment. It is a lot of fun and a year-round facility so you can keep your golf groove going.

There were 40 of us for the evening and in between the laughs, networking, golfing we also made a contribution to the Artemis House.  The Artemis House is a shelter in Fairfax County that serves women and children who are experiencing domestic violence.

Now, the evening was a lot of fun – of course – food, women, drinks, golf.  We know that is the perfect storm of socializing.  However, and more importantly, put all those dynamics together with group of women who decide to make a difference is truly something powerful.

Mary Jefferson, Katia McKennon, Patty Powers & Karla Kelly

Every woman on some level can relate to the threat of domestic violence by either having been a victim, having known a victim or by just being disgusted and offended by the thought of women and children being physically and psychologically abused.  It is vital to have places like the Artemis House and the services they provide.  It takes time, energy, volunteers, commitment and money.  So, it was with great pleasure and humility that our little group was able to add a bit more cash into the Artemis pot.

Simplify and Reduce

Have you ever had to take either a self-imposed or life-imposed break from something that you absolutely love?  Then when life gets back to normal you have the opportunity to get reacquainted and realize that during those months you were apart, you were actually missing a real part of yourself?

For the last six months my life has been absolutely chaotic:  I put my house on the market, sold it, moved, doubled my work load at the office, along with the standard life dynamics:  family, travel, pets, health, death, etc…  You know the drill – life under normal circumstances is busy.  Add in another couple of variables and it gets crazy.

So, during this timeframe, I didn’t write any Women on Course blogs or attend any of the events.  I barely had time to golf let alone do any women’s golfing events. I went back to my old math teacher’s advice that I also apply to my life when things get crazy:  simplify and reduce.

Well, I would say in most cases this is probably good advice. When life does become overwhelming, simplifying and reducing some of the minutiae can be necessary just to keep your head from exploding.

This past Saturday I finally attended a Women On Course Event -  the Fall Fashion and Luncheon Event.   When I walked in, I saw so many familiar faces. I was greeted with so much warmth. I was absolutely enveloped by women who had sincerely missed me.  I missed them too.  I realized that while there are times in life when I need to simplify and reduce – Women On Course is NOT one of the things I should apply that strategy! During the event I felt as if I had been missing exactly what I needed most during this crazy time of life:  gathering together for a couple hours of camaraderie and friendship, laughter, wine, prizes, connecting and reconnecting.  It was not a huge investment of time but the pay off of those couple of hours was enormous.

This is exactly what makes Women on Course so awesome.  This wonderful group of women across the country who gather together to network, for friendship, ladies golfing interests (playing, thinking of playing, travel, fashion, business, social, 19^th hole….whatever!!!), to drink wine and just simply connect. 

During the event I took a moment to look around and I realized that while I had tried to simplify my life by putting Women on Course on the backburner, I had actually done myself a HUGE disservice.  Women on Course was EXACTLY what I needed during this rough patch.  I could have used a few events to just stop:  stop packing, stop fixing, stop planning, stop trouble-shooting, stop running, stop thinking and most of all to stop worrying.

Women on Course:  thank you for being just what you are and letting me have a comfy place to come to and for having, by far, the best women’s golf events around.
 
Note to Self:  Simplify and Reduce the RIGHT things in life – not the things that hold me together.

In today’s competitive business environment women can’t afford NOT to play golf.  Golf is one of the few sports that are widely accepted in the workplace as a place to build relationships, and close deals. Among charities, it’s a popular fundraising vehicle  and it’s a game that people of all ages can play together.

So what’s holding YOU back from participating?  If you’re feeling intimidated, limited by time or just don’t think you’re good enough, Women on Course can ease you into the golf lifestyle so you can start enjoying the business benefits and connections that men have been enjoying for years.

Women’s golf is growing, so Trade the Old Boys Network for the NEW Girls Network!

• Where else can you spend five quality hours with your company CEO or valued customers?  With today’s busy schedules most of us are lucky if we can get five minutes!
• You can plan a client meeting in an ‘office’ surrounded by water, nature and sand instead of four white walls.
• If you want to break into the boys club the odds are good.  Only 23% of golfers are women so four times out of five you’ll stand out as the only women in the group.
• You can trade in your business suit and heels for colorful sportswear and comfy shoes with soft spikes.
• If you want the undivided attention from three of your colleagues, you can’t beat the first tee (and the seventeen after that) to get noticed.
• Build your resume with a leadership position at the next industry or charity tournament looking for volunteers.
• Only 10% of all golfers actually score below 100.  So relax, and have fun as you are most likely in the majority.
• If you have a positive attitude and practice good etiquette the golf course is unique opportunity to impress your associates with your professional character, regardless of your skill level.
• When the water cooler talk turns to bogies and birdies, you’ll be able to participate and get invited to play.
• It’s an opportunity to triple dip with your time!  Network for business, engage in a healthy activity and build confidence and skills all at the same time.

Come see what the golf buzz is all about at the next Women on Course event in your area. (and get your business to pay for it!)

Debbie "Venus" Keller and the Red Group in Salt Lake City

As we say at every event, the Women on Course mission is to introduce women to the lifestyle of golf and to connect women to each other – to encourage fun and welcoming networking over a common interest – GOLF!

We hear from many ladies who have attended our Golf Experience events for the first time that one of the things that separates Women on Course from other networking events is the opportunity to participate at any level.   This is especially exciting for ladies who are brand new to golf.  Golf can be intimidating, ladies golf can be VERY intimidating – which is why we made sure we had a fun and educational activity for those who have never even picked up a club before.  It’s called the RED GROUP.

When I first learned to use a computer,  my notes started with #1.  Turn the computer on – the on/off switch is on the back of the computer!   This is how we work with the Red Group – the activities start with a fun orientation which begins with some basic information – what is a bogie and a birdie, what to wear, where can you get clubs and what kinds do you need.  The group then gets an etiquette lesson which starts out at the pro shop – here’s where you check in, what time you should arrive, and proceeds out to the course where the group learns how to drive a cart, where to drive it,  where to stand while players are hitting the ball, when to pick up your ball, when to talk  and how to help with the flag.  All of the basics are covered!

Learning to Grip the Club

The group then gets a one hour clinic with the club pros that includes the basics of the full swing and putting.  Most of our ladies are thrilled to say that by the end of the day they are able to get the ball in the air!  At our recent Golf Experience event at Thanksgiving Point Golf Course in Salt Lake City, the group was lucky  to be taught by our own Debbie “Venus” Keller and that is a real treat, not only is Debbie extremely entertaining but she is an amazing instructor who really knows how to get even the most timid of new golfers hitting with confidence is a very short period of time.

The Red Group generally concludes with a fun putting contest.  One lady at a recent event in Boston, actually won with a “hole in one”!   The best part of the day?  Listening to the ladies telling stories and congratulating each other at the 19th hole cocktail party.

Sharing Stories and Successes

If you know anyone who would like to learn a little bit about golf in a fun, non intimidating way, be sure to tell them about our Golf Experience events,  members can also enjoy video lessons from Debbie “Venus” Keller by accessing the members-only area on our website and we are always happy to set up Play Day Clinics (ask us how). One of our members recently said that  Women on Course provides the “on ramp” to the very busy “golf highway” …  that made us smile!