Patty Atkins & Tina Mickelson (with baby on board!)

Tina Mickelson inspired and entertained us with her women’s golf stories and words of wisdom during the Women on Course Signature Golf Event at Sycuan Resort in  San Diego, CA on Aug 10th.

According to Tina, golf provides her the opportunity to spend time and develop relationships with people she otherwise couldn’t. When she wants to spend time with her brothers all she has to do is get a tee time and she instantly has 4.5 hours of uninterrupted time!  She also described how playing golf with people she wouldn’t ordinarily choose to hang out with (men!) has helped her grow as a person – she used to be intimidated by “guy-banter”, but now she is used to it and has even learned to banter back – and the guys love it!

I find these points so true in my own life and have found that there are many different ways to experience 9 or 18 holes. I love playing ladies golf  with my girlfriends, where we just talk, talk, talk and the only time conversation ceases is for the 2 seconds during our swings (and on the putting green). I also love playing very serious tournament golf when nobody talks much at all and I’m really focused on the mental aspect of the game. Playing with my husband and kids is an entirely different experience – more fun and relaxing combined with the pleasure of sharing “family time”.  It’s just as fun for me to play with scratch golfers and admire their beautiful swings as it is to play with new golfers and mentor them along. All in all, as Tina shared, playing golf is about being surrounded by nature, gowing as a person, respecting the game, and the best part … spending quality time with quality people!

Ultimately, the only rounds that are not enjoyable are the ones played with negative nellies with bad attitudes. As Tina said, “Those are the people who you let play on through – both in golf and in life.”   Love that and so true!

WOC 3-Day in Miami

Women on Course held the First Annual 3-Day Get-Away at The Doral Resort in Miami with kick-off starting on Friday, January 22. I hadn’t been on a trip like this with Women on Course and it was the first one WOC had done so I simply didn’t know what to expect.

The week-end was just a total smash!  I had so much fun and the WOC team created an amazing experience. Let me just make this easy on you:  surprise gifts every night, a fashion show, pool-side reception, golf at The Doral, Andree Martin (great golf instructor!!), South Beach, food, wine, laughter.   Put all this together and I made wonderful friends, the ladies were able to work out the kinks in their swings (how to work around the TaTa’s was a common issue), we ate wonderful food, drank even more fabulous wine.  I made one heck of a bunker shot that landed INCHES from the flag, and I beat some local South Beach guys at pool – with the help of my partner,  Donna Hoffman, founder of Women on Course!

Andree Martin - golf instructor

The whole week-end was casual and classy all the way.  It was just want I needed on every level and I can’t wait for the next one.  There is simply nothing like the power of women and the special magic that happens when Women On Course brings us all together.  What a way to kick off 2010!

Golf Clinics at the WOC 3-Day

Lee stepping in!

Last Thursday night I attended yet another amazing Women on Course Happy Hour Event in Washington, DC hosted by the ever gracious City Club at Franklin Square.  Even though Donna Hoffman (President and Founder of WOC) was sick and in bed with some dehumanizing flu, Lee Van Giezen (Donna’s right and left arm) was our Madam of Ceremonies, making sure everything flowed as nicely as the wine.

The ladies loved John!

As with all of the Women on Course events – whether it is a Golf Experience event, Play Day or Happy Hour – the recipe is the same and ALWAYS a winner:  women, wine, golf, socializing, prizes, munchies and lots of good vibes – and  it really doesn’t get much better than that.  Unless, of course,

• You are the featured speaker from GolfTEC,
• You are the only male in the room with over 30 beautiful women and,
• You are 37 and single.

Please, let me introduce: John Benkovic!

John gave an informative and helpful overview of what you can do during the winter months to keep yourself in shape and your golf swing active. However,  his personality was the star of the show!  John was funny and engaging…..and did I point out that he is 37 and single!  He didn’t bat an eye at the ever-challenging questions concerning what does a well-endowed woman do with her Ta-Ta’s during the golf swing.  His advice and knowledge was for women and I liked that that he obviously knew who his audience was!  And, (sing it with me now) he is 37 and single!

Jacque Barlow - Mass Mutual

Let’s not forget  the Mirassou wine, Cabot cheese and the fabulous jewelry display brought in by Levina Kim of Stella and Dot.  Mass Mutual, Women On Course’s major sponsor, had the lovely Jacque Barlow on tap for the evening. Jacque is a wonderful Mass Mutual agent and dear friend of Women on Course.  She ALWAYS provides me with the best moment of the evening:  after she makes introductions, she mentions that Mass Mutual is the only insurance company that covers breast cancer survivors.  In the middle of all the networking, laughing, jewelry, socializing, wine and food, hearing that there is a company out there that cares about women’s issues makes the event all the more special!

Gainey Ranch Golf Club, an award-winning 27-hole private golf club hosted over 35 Women on Course guests and members for an afternoon of golf clinics and unparalleled golf on one of three championship 9-hole courses.  Our signature Red Group agenda for ‘never ever’ golfers included an introduction to the game followed by  hands on golf lessons.   Concluding at the 19th hole, women enjoyed wine, refreshments, prizes and the camaraderie of bonding with new and old friends.  If you were one of the lucky ladies that attended, we’d love to hear your comments…

Be a guest at our next Women on Course event!