Golf and the Game of Life

During a fun weekend with my family in Atlantic City, an idea for a new business popped into my head. I literally woke up, saying, “I’ve got it!” I quickly found a pen and a piece of paper and started scribbling, including the name “Golf-Positive” and notes for the chapters of a book.

Something big was bubbling up from all the laughter during that family getaway. Call it the perfect brainstorm: We all started talking about how the book could have one chapter with a golf lesson and the next about a positive mindset. “Golf-Positive, A Guide to Perspective” was one of the ideas for the book’s title.

I shared my favorite new quote with everyone: “An optimist figures that taking a step backward after having taken a step forward is not a disaster. It’s a cha-cha.” One of the chapters could be called “Cha-Cha.” Maybe even “Chi Chi,” a play on the great Chi Chi Rodriguez. More ideas flowed and my list of “things to do” grew ... register the name Golf-Positive, start an LLC, create a logo, design a website (well, hire someone to do that) and build content, write a book proposal, plan a social media strategy. Oh yeah, I can’t forget: Write a business plan. After all, what is Golf-Positive?

Defining “Golf–Positive” and its mission took a bit of time and thought. Golf is taught as a sport for life. It was important to consider the breadth of the game as well as the ideal attitude. Golf is a metaphor for life. The game challenges us with hazards, bunkers, hills, roughs and out of bounds. There are penalties. To play well, we must learn to handle the emotions of the highs of amazing execution and success as well as the lows of missed shots and lost balls. It’s important to “tee” yourself up for success, to think and plan your next move, and then follow through. And of course, you need to keep moving in the direction of your goal. Staying in a good frame of mind makes the entire journey more enjoyable and more successful.

After years of experience and learning, I teach a 4-step plan for success, CORE Triumph! It's a formula that is proven, so I'm thrilled to teach it to anyone who has a goal they want to achieve, on or off the golf course!

Fast forward from that Atlantic City weekend: I have a registered trademark for Golf-Positive, I formed an LLC and bought the domain names golfpositive.com, golf-positive.com, golfpositive.net and golfpositive.org. I hired an amazing motivational speaker to teach me how to make my presentations even better. I have a website and many social media forums! The corporate outings and speaking opportunities keep arising.

Creating the logo did take some time. I described the concept of Golf-Positive to a graphic artist with whom I had worked in the past. I wanted the logo to visually pop with the essence of Golf- Positive. Finally it came to me: Make the “o” in golf a golf ball and have it falling into the hole, which is the “o” in positive! That says it all ... setting your goal, following through and winning.

I can almost hear the sound bottom of the cup.

 I have sat in audiences listening to motivational speakers with this inner voice telling me that I’m supposed to be that person someday. It happened for the first time about 25 years ago, but I knew that I needed to have a success story to share before I could teach others how to succeed. I had to walk the walk before I could talk the talk. Well, this is the moment. Golf-Positive is in full swing!

Live Positive - Be Positive - Golf Positive
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Remembering Rhonda Glenn: Making Golf History On TV And By The Book

Rhonda Glenn didn’t set out to make golf history. She just wanted the job. 

When she died on Feb. 12 at age 68 after a long fight with cancer, the blitz of news coverage made it clear: Rhonda Glenn would be remembered for much more than her winning ways on the links. In 1981, at the age of 34, she became the first female anchor on ESPN. She also wrote the book on women’s golf: “The Illustrated History of Women’s Golf” (Taylor Trade Publishing: 1991). It won the USGA International Book Award in 1992.( http://www.amazon.com/The-Illustrated-History-Womens-Golf/dp/0878337431 )

 Here’s how Rhonda saw her groundbreaking career on TV, according to ESPN:

( http://www.espnfrontrow.com/2015/02/updated-rhonda-glenn-the-first-female-sportscenter-anchor-passes-away-at-68/ )

 “The fact that I was on what you would call the ‘cutting edge’ really didn’t make an impact on me,” said Glenn, who left ESPN after two years and worked in communications for the United States Golf Association (USGA) since 1996. “It wasn’t something I strived for. I never wanted to be the first, I just wanted the job.”

 My most cherished memory of  Rhonda goes back to the early 1990s, when I met her at a golf tournament where she was the keynote speaker. She truly captured the mood of the moment and inspired the audience. I still remember her warm and generous smile as she signed my copy of her book.

 That extraordinary book came in handy when I was asked to be the master of ceremonies at an LPGA awards dinner. The committee decided that I would talk about the history of women’s golf, beginning with Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587). Oh, how the queen loved to play golf. I turned to Rhonda’s book to get inspiration for my remarks. Fast forward to the event: I’m standing at the podium. As I spoke, bagpipes began to play from a spot just outside the room. The bagpipe players walked into the room just as I completed my last line:

 “The next time you are out on the golf course, look around. Maybe you, too, will hear the sound of bagpipes.”

 It was a very moving moment! I felt such gratitude for all the women who had paved the way for my career in women’s golf, and especially for Rhonda Glenn, for all of her research and writing to put together the inspiring story of the history of women’s golf.

 To repeat, Rhonda was the first female anchor shortly after ESPN launched. She blazed the trail for women to take the microphone and get respect as experts on sports. She went on to become a golf commentator for ABC for 16 years. After she left broadcast news, Rhonda worked for the USGA as manager of their media operations for 17 years.

Rhonda was a close friend of Mickey Wright, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, who turned 80 on Valentine’s Day. Rhonda played a major role in creating the Mickey Wright Room at the USGA Museum in Far Hills, New Jersey. As the story goes, she persuaded Mickey to part with some of her memorabilia for display in the museum.

 The day after Rhonda died, Beth Ann Nichols, the senior writer for GolfWeek, sent out this tribute on Twitter (https://twitter.com/golfweeknichols ):

 @GolfweekNichols – Beth Ann Nichols: "Rhonda was the best interviewer and TV newscaster because she did her homework better than anyone.” – Mickey Wright on Rhonda Glenn  5:11 PM - 13 Feb 2015

 Rhonda’s final work was with golf legend Nancy Lopez as they wrote Nancy’s autobiography. Here is a glimpse from Rhonda’s interview with Nancy in December 2012 ( http://ci-disp.usga.org/articles/2012/12/catching-up-with--nancy-lopez-21474852309.html ):

 “Dressed casually in a white shirt and white shorts, Lopez, 55, glides into her living room, as regal and graceful as when golf writer Gordon White of The New York Times dubbed  her “the Spanish Queen” some 35 years ago.” 

 Rhonda competed in 12 USGA championships, a point noted by Ann Guiderson, executive director of the Colorado Women’s Golf Association, in her online tribute. At the age of 6, Rhonda began playing golf, according to a profile of her by Lisa D. Mickey published in May 2013 by The New York Times. The story’s headline, “Giving Voice to Women’s Game,” recognized Rhonda’s lasting gift to women’s golf with her love of the sport and its history.  ( http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/13/sports/golf/for-rhonda-glenn-a-career-of-giving-a-voice-to-womens-golf.html?_r=0 )

 Rhonda’s smile, as sunny as her native Florida, and her crown of short blonde curls were everywhere again when the sad news broke that she was gone. Writer Andy Hall of ESPNFrontRow brought back Rhonda’s voice with this quote:   

“They say I’ve really been with the USGA for 49 years,” said Glenn, who has written eight books on golf. “I’ve loved the USGA since I played in the girl’s junior in 1963.

“Because of my father and mother I had a great respect for the history of the game so it was just natural,” she said. “It’s like they say, find something you like to do and make a career out of it, and I’ve been very fortunate to be able to do that.”

That’s a lovely lesson from Rhonda’s life: “Find something you like to do and make a career out of it … “ 

So many in the sports world grieved at the news of Rhonda’s passing on Feb. 12. 

 “Today we lost a wonderful passionate person from the game of golf. Rhonda Glenn became even a better friend after working with her for the past 2 years on my autobiography. She was one super lady. I cried many tears today, because we finished my book and she didn't get to see it in print. God bless you Rhonda. You will be missed!” – Nancy Lopez Golf Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-Lopez-Golf/175858369114420 )

 I’m sad that Rhonda’s dance on earth – and her time on the links - were cut way too short. But Rhonda was such a genuine, kind and generous soul. Her amazing talent, combined with her passion for life, people and the game of golf, will live on in our memories.  I will help keep Rhonda’s spirit alive in the game of golf – and the game of life –  by doing my best to represent all of her outstanding qualities through my work for Golf Positive!

It’s tee time, Rhonda. Here’s to you!  

Be Positive - Live Positive - Golf Positive
http://golfpositive.com

A New Round of Golf & Life

January, the first month of the new year!  It's like starting a round of golf!
I'm sure you feel the same as I do when I'm on my way to the golf to play, excited about the possibility of a great round of golf!  You start at even par again ... a clean slate!

How are you doing so far in your new year?  One of my goals for this year is to read more books!  I recently read that Mark Zuckerberg, Chairman and CEO of Facebook, set the same goal for 2015!!  He may not have the "Oprah Effect" on reading, but I'm sure many will follow his book recommendations!!  I'm at even par on my goal as I have finished one book this month.  Now some of you veracious readers may laugh that my plan is to complete only one book per month!  I do enjoy reading, I just haven't made the time for it in the past.  Well, I would read on vacation.  Since I don't vacation every month, I will start to make the time in my daily life!

How are you doing with your 2015 goals?  Maybe you have exceeded your goal and made a "birdie" for the month of Jan.  Congratulations on a fantastic start!!  If you made a bogey or double bogey, meaning to you didn't followthrough with your plan,  it's ok, restart!!

Similar to golf, a bad first hole, doesn't mean you will play a poor round of golf!!  Learn something and then move on!  You get to start over on each hole on the golf course and in life, each new day is an opportunity!

Make it an extraordinary year by continuing to reach for your dreams, both on and off the golf course!

Be positive, live positive, Golf Positive!!
http://golfpositive.com

2014 - A Year in Review

It was an exciting year for golf fans in 2014!!  I've pulled together a couple of interesting facts from UPI.com and Golfchannel.com.

Look out for Lydia Ko in 2015 in the LPGA Tour!!  Rory should also continue his dominate play!!

PGA Tour - PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- RORY MCILROYWith two major championship titles and a World Golf Championship victory, it was easy to pick Rory McIlroy as the Player of the Year, earning $8,280,096.
McIlroy picked up three straight wins at the Open Championship, WGC- Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championship. Prior to that run, he had six top-10 finishes.
After a missed cut at the European Tour's Irish Open, McIlroy shot par or better in 28 of his next 32 rounds. In his three straight victories, he broke par in all 12 rounds and shot in the 60s in 11 of those 12.He led the PGA Tour with 12 top-10 finishes (in 17 starts) and tied for third- most top-5 finishes with six. While Jimmy Walker also had three wins in the 2013-14 season, Walker didn't have another top-5 finish.
McIlroy put together a strong statistical year too. He led the PGA Tour in par breakers, scoring average and money earned to name a few categories. He also finished third in driving distance and sixth in greens in regulation percentage.

A Year to Learn - Tiger Woods made just eight starts as he missed significant time after back surgery. His best finish was a tie for 25th at the WGC-Cadillac Championship. Woods played in the final two majors after missing the first two and he was over par in four of his five rounds in those two events.- Phil Mickelson finished second at the PGA Championship, but that was his lone top-10 on the PGA Tour in 2014. Mickelson was not a factor in the other three majors.- Mike Weir's struggles continued as he made just nine cuts in 25 starts. The former Masters champion did card four rounds in the 60s en route to a second- place finish at the Byron Nelson Championship, but his next-best finish was a tie for 44th at the Masters.- Padraig Harrington made seven cuts in 16 PGA Tour starts. The three-time majors champion's best finish was a share of 22nd at the Byron Nelson. He finished 192nd on the money list.

LPGA Tour - Stacy Lewis was the LPGA’s triple-crown winner in 2014, having won the Tour’s Player of the Year race, money title and the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average. That Lewis was able to eke past Inbee Park and Lydia Ko in all three categories is telling, for Lewis’s season was one of the best ever for an American player since International stars came to dominate the Tour in the last 15 or so years. But Park and Ko had monster years themselves.All three golfers earned more than $2 million in 2014, the first time three players reached that milestone in the same year. Each player won three tournaments. Lewis was second six times, no doubt the edge she needed in the POY race. With 10 top-3 finishes, she slid past Park and Ko by a 10 to 9 to 8 margin. Of the trio, only Park missed a cut this year (Airbus LPGA). With 77 starts between them, the trio combined for 50 top-10 finishes. Lewis might have won the three awards, but Ko and Park don’t head into the holiday season empty handed. Ko won the CME Globe season-long points championship (and the $1 million bonus, which doesn’t count toward her season earnings). Park is the current No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings.How the LPGA’s top three players compare: Tournament finishes

Player	Wins	2nds	3rds	Top 10	Starts	Cuts  made	Earnings	Money  rank
Stacy Lewis	3	6	1	18	28	28	$2,539,039	1
Inbee Park	3	2	4	17	23	22	$2,226,641	2
Lydia Ko	3	2	3	15	26	26	$2,106.654	3

Be Positive - Live Positive - Golf Positive

http://golfpositive.com

Let Go and Grow

It's time to let go so you can grow!
As I watch the trees let go of their beautiful and colorful leaves, I can't help but think about what I can shed!  The leaves have a very important purpose in the spring, summer and early fall.  They feed the tree allowing it to grow and thrive and reproduce.  In the colder shorter days the tree does not need to be fed by the leaves so it literally cuts the leaves loose.  If trees kept their leaves permanently, they would not grow new ones.

We can learn so much from trees!  It's important to replace a bad habit with a pattern that will help you to grow!

For me on the golf course, I want to take more time to plan my strategy each time I get on a tee box, especially on a course I'm playing for the first time.  Recently, I was playing in a Pro Am and I stood on the first hole and thought I picked a target that would leave my ball in the middle of the fairway with some "room for success" if my ball leaked a little left or right.  The view of the hole from the tee was deceiving!  After hitting what felt like and looked like a very good tee shot, I realized my ball landed in the right rough.  It was deep rough and I topped the next shot, completing the hole with a double bogey!  If I had taken the time to look at the yardage book to better understand the entire hole, I would have chosen a better target.  I will let go of the quick assessments and assumptions of the hole as I plan my shot and replace that with taking the time and necessary steps to understand the layout of the hole and choose the most effective target.  New leaves!

In everyday life for me, I plan to replace procrastination with immediate action.  Just this morning, I looked at an e-mail and decided I would like to take action on it.  It was from my niece who is raising money to support the fight against childhood cancer.  I'm so proud of her, she will dance for 12 hours straight!  My first thought was, "fabulous, I'm excited to donate!"  My second thought was, "I'll save that e-mail and do it later."  Then I saw some leaves blowing off the trees and thought, "My leaf that I'm cutting loose reads procrastination!"  I donated right away!!  I'm going to make every effort to grow with new leaves that say, "Do it now!"

What will you let go of this fall?  Is it negative thinking on the golf course and off?  Maybe you rush to hit the ball and forget to set up properly or you forget to set a goal or pick a target.  Find an action that you are better of without and then replace it with something better!

Be Positive - Live Positive - Golf Positive

http://golfpositive.com

Ted Bishop Should Apologize ...

Ted Bishop should apologize -  NOT to Ian Poulter, but to all girls - and women. In his criticism (published on social media) of Poulter's comments regarding the Ryder Cup leadership of Nick Faldo and Tom Watson, Mr. Bishop called Poulter a “lil girl”. He further went on write “…Sounds like a little school girl squealing during recess. C’MON MAN!.”

It is abhorrent that Mr. Bishop make the inappropriate comparison of ones complaining to that of the behavior of a young girl (boys scream at recess too). Why not state that Poulters comments were “childish” or “narrow minded”. Why instead tell the social media world that he believes little girls in recess are giddy whiners? Why bring a gender analogy into it at all? 

In an age where most are working diligently to dissolve old stereotypes and break gender barriers, it is disappointing that Mr. Bishop deems this comment appropriate. 

Girls and women are making strides in advancing their opportunities on the golf course (through the LPGA/USGA “Girls Golf” program, as one example), in the classroom, in corporate America and even in the boardroom. Mr. Bishop should learn that while counter criticism is acceptable, it should be done in such a way that does not draw on old stereotypes.Mr. Bishop is a voice of leadership in our golf community. C’MON MAN - he should know better.

Be Positive - Live Positive - Golf Positive

http://golfpositive.com

St. Andrews Welcomes Women - And Their Money - To the Club

St. Andrews Welcomes Women – And Their Money – To the Club

It only took 260 years, but the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland, made a huge statement in the world of golf this fall with its historic vote to admit female members. The breakthrough came on the same day that Scots voted on whether to declare independence from the United Kingdom.  

My first reaction was elation, the same way I felt when Augusta National welcomed two women as members for the first time. I was thrilled by the bold move made by the club known as “the home of golf.” This is an exciting time for women in the sport.   

Then I thought, "It's about time!"

Looking at the historic vote another way, it could be that some minds within this old boys’ club were looking beyond the question of gender equality to something more basic – a desire to beef up the old bottom line.  

As Alice Arnold, a golfer, wrote in her column in The Telegraph on Sept. 19, the day after the historic vote: “The golf industry is struggling. Golf clubs are often short of members and manufacturers of equipment are seeing their profits fall. Unless the sport embraces a wider constituency, the industry will fail.” 

Golf will be an Olympic sport in 2016. Rory McIlroy and other younger members of the PGA Tour have been outspoken in their support of equality, Arnold wrote. Tournament sponsors, including HSBC and other major banks, have made it clear that they don’t want to be associated with venues where players are segregated by gender. 

Yes, change does take time.  I am thrilled to be in an industry that is evolving. 

Peter Dawson, chief executive officer of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, made this statement in announcing that 85 percent of the club’s members had voted to admit women: “This is a very important and positive day in the history of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club. I think it is a very positive message for the game of golf.”

Progress can take a quantum leap now that the home of golf has changed such a long-standing rule in a sport so bound by tradition.

Women have been fighting to be treated with respect and fairness on the golf links since the inception of the sport.  

Even as an LPGA professional who plays and understands the game well, I have felt uncomfortable walking into a clubhouse because of my gender. One time I had to walk around an entire building because I was not allowed walk through the Grill Room: It was for men only. My gut hurt. It was clear that I wasn't welcome at the country club.  

Another time when I felt discrimination because of my gender was when I was invited to play golf on a Sunday at a private country club in Chicago.  Although we would have preferred a morning tee time, we had to wait until 11 a.m. because women couldn't tee off before then on the weekends. Really? The three women in the group were better players than most of the men. 

It's not only the rules of the country clubs that make women feel unwanted in the game of golf, but some of the male players make that all too clear as well. On vacation, I went to play golf with a fellow female professional. When we were warming up to play, the starter informed us that he was going to pair us up with the two men who had the tee time behind us. We happily agreed!  Then he said that the gentlemen did not want to be paired with us. Fortunately, two more guys came to play, and they were thrilled to be paired with us.  (OK, maybe it was just because they wanted to get the earlier tee time, but the fact that we were women didn't matter.) When we went to the middle tees (from where most male amateurs play) and hit two great drives about 250 yards down the middle, it felt great!  Our playing partners were overjoyed!  The two men who declined to be paired up with us had this shocked look on their faces and then a bit of embarrassment as my fellow female professional said, "We'll try not to hold you up!" Their reply: "Our bad!"  

But what if we were not professionals and didn't hit the ball so impressively? So often when women 
are in that situation, they feel a great deal of pressure to hit an amazing tee shot. They don't want the men rolling their eyes and wishing women weren't on the golf course.  

As women become members at more of the world’s most elite country clubs, especially The Royal and Ancient Club and Augusta National, there will be fewer stories like the ones I have shared here. I am ecstatic about the decision of the R&A members in Scotland.  The entire golf industry will benefit.   

Cheers to a more positive future for women in golf! 
Be Positive - Live Positive - Golf Positive
http://golfpositive.com