Best Wishes for 2007

Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!

Many thanks for reading Golf Girl's Diary. I've got a ton of resolutions... really good ones, so I'm psyched. I'll post the list on Tuesday along with my photos of the weekend. We're spending New Year's Eve at Foxwoods like we do every year. It always rocks. So, have fun, keep safe and again, many thanks for reading! See you in 2007.

XOXO, Patricia

Presenting: The Best of the Best of 2006

O.K. The moment you've all been waiting for... or not. Anyway, it's the moment for me to expound upon announce MY choices for MY 2006 Best of the Best in Golf Awards. Don't expect any objectivity here. No thought will be given to scores or statistics. Just the very biased opinions of an impassioned, and not overly knowledgeable, beginning golfer.
When I announced I was doing this list I got lots of emails, most of them negative. Some called it pretentious, or just lame. Others said it was self-centered crap. And those were just the ones from my husband. Well, Message to Nick: You're not the boss of me. This is MY list and MY blog! So, without further ado her they are, The Best of the Best of 2006.

Most Interesting Player - Male: Tiger Woods. Sorry, I'm with everyone else on this one. I just couldn't go controversial here, no way, no how. Yes, it seems obvious. It IS obvious, but Tiger's interestingness goes way beyond golf, and even for him this was an exceptional year. On so many fronts. From the death of his Dad and his subsequent unsuccessful struggle to make the cut at Winged Foot, to the amazing stretch of PGA Tour Victories that followed. It was All so compelling. Then there was the controversy of fake photos in Ireland, The Ryder Cup Questions, and the announcement of the first Tiger Woods Golf Course...to be built in Saudi Arabia...of all debatable locals. So, though I rarely write about Tiger Woods, because everyone else does it for me, this was not negotiable. The Most Interesting Male Player of 2006 just had to be Tiger. No real runner up either. Not when Tiger’s in the game.

Most Interesting Player - Female: Lorena Ochoa. Again, this choice is not too controversial, but she's definitely an ultra-interesting player. POY, AOY, she got all the big awards, but remained so discreet and subtle. There’s even something about her demeanor, when observed on a glowing flat screen, that practically seems aloof, but yet her kindness and generosity are already legendary. Some say her incredible year was merely a fluke, but like most, I think she’s the real deal, and I sure do welcome that. Runner up: Michelle Wie. Some love her, some loath her, but I don’t think there’s any question she’s one of the most interesting Female players of 2006. Time Magazine even included her on their list of The 100 People who Shape our World in 2006. Category: Heros and Pioneers. Enough said. Personally, I’m a huge Michelle fan, and I can’t wait to see what she does in 2007.

Sexiest Player - Male: Ernie Els. Ok here's where the controversy (and total lack of objectivity) starts. Anyone who's read my posts knows I have this "thing" for Ernie Els. Can't help it, I know he's not the obvious choice, but he's mine, and there’s a very salacious good reason for that. Runner's up: Alvaro Quiros, the sexy Spanish sequel to Sergio, and smoldering Latino Camillo Villegas. What's not to lust like about them two?

Sexiest Player - Female: Natalie Gulbis. A decade ago it would have been hard to find one, now it's hard to limit it to several! There are just so many sexy women players these days, and frankly I would venture to say Natalie’s looks are not what makes her sexy. OK, she’s pretty, but not ultra-pretty like some of the other girls out there. What makes Natalie so sexy is her seeming accessibility and openness. When you feel like a girl would always be happy to see you and always ready to listen to you...when you feel like you could really get to know a girl (I'm just speculating here) it definitely makes her sexy. And this is what Natalie projects. In a really good way. Runners up: The Australian Calendar Girls, just have one look at their calendar and I'm sure you'll agree.

Most Stylish Golf Outfit - Male: Sergio Garcia. Stylish Sergio has been known to make a fashion faux pas or two...or ten. Normally involving too much of one yellow color. But this look is spot-on. Worn during practice for The Open Championship last July, The palm green is distinctive, but sporty, and kept under control by the black in the shirt and trousers. It’s his accessories however, that really take the outfit to the next level. How many of us could pull of a palm green croc-embossed belt? Or could it be real Crocodile. PETA sure wouldn’t like that. So lets assume it’s not. Nice going Sergio.

Most Stylish Golf Outfit - Female: Paula Creamer. It was at the Samsung and it was Paula Creamer. Paula always does it up. Normally in head to toe pink, which makes some people want to throw up. I happen to like the Pink Panther Paula but this look wasn’t that. This was the Preppy Patriotic Paula and I’m telling you, it worked. Crisp navy shorts and polo shirt against an uncharacteristic golden tan (self-tanner, body bling?) and white/navy shoes and cap. But it was the red white and blue ribbon and peace symbol earrings that really made a (political) statement. I for one, heard it loud and clear, and the look is my pick for Outfit of the Year.

Most Exciting My Favorite Tournament - Male: The US Open at Winged Foot. It was the beginning of summer and it was the first major tournament I ever attended. I was totally new to golf (well before I started this blog) and everything seemed mysterious; The hallowed historic venue, the schmoozing and socializing, the game of golf itself even. I was only there on the first day, and mainly in a hospitality tent, but I went home and was riveted to the wide-screen for the rest. Up to the bitter end. And that was when I first knew I was into golf.

Most Exciting My Favorite Tournament - Female: Samsung World Championship. it may not have been the best or the most exciting (that’s why I changed the category) but it's the one I’ll remember... because of the time of year and because of my newness to watching and writing about golf. Lorena’s extraordinary round, Michelle's mishaps. It was just lots of fun to watch. For me anyway.

Juiciest Golf Gossip Item: John Daly. A as one reader suggested, John Daly's trials and tribulations have got to be way up there. First his wife gets thrown in prison...with her parents, no less...then once she's out they get divorced. There were also allegations of excessive drinking and gambling and a rumored liaison with Britney Spears. I agree with my reader. John Daly IS the item. I still love him though. And Runner up: Greg Norman gave John a run for his money. With a divorce, a rebound romance, and a beautiful golf-matched daughter he provided his own share of golf tabloid titillation.

Most Innovative New Golf Product: Tasty Golf Tees. I know from whence I chew. And from the time I chewed that first Strawberry Tee I was convinced that this was a great product. Maybe it’s not high tech, maybe it’s not going to add yards to your drive, but it’s a clever little item that, once you get used to it, becomes indispensable, at least for a tee chewer like me. Best Personalized Golf Product: My Hannigan Tartan Putter Grip. I never even knew we had a family tartan pattern. Now I have it on a putter grip, emblazoned with my name, no less. The grip has a great feel too. You can choose virtually any pattern you want. Lorena has the Mexican Flag on hers. It seems to work for her too.

Biggest Golf Blunder: Phil Michelson at Winged Foot. Phil's disaster at Winged Foot was the kind of classic 72nd hole meltdown that only happens once a year. One hopes. Michelle Wie at Samsung would probably be a close runner up, though. Ouch.

Best Golf Girl's Diary Post: Golf Curmudgeons. I I like the way this post came out and believe there’s truth in it. Runner up: Dubai or Not Dubai. I just had such fun writing that piece and all of the posts from the Dubai Ladie's Masters.

Best Golf Blogger: All Golf Bloggers. I know how lame that must sound, like some kind of a yellow bellied cop-out, but if Time Magazine can elect You as its Person of the Year, I can sure as hell choose All Golf Bloggers as my Golf Blogger of the Year. Yes, I'm partial to the blogs that are updated regularly - though I know how impossible that can be - and the ones that are humorous or light, but I do believe I've learned something from just about every golf blog I've read and I think they each offer different things to different readers. Therefore I feel justified in my cop out choice.

So that's it. I'm sure there'll be those who disagree with my choices. But remember they're just very personal choices. As in: “I never claimed to be an expert in these things, Nick, I just like to write about them”. Oh, BTW, One final category, Golf Husband of the Year: That would have to be Nick.

Golf Girl's Best of the Best of 2006

Join me tomorrow when I present my first annual Best of the Best list. The categories are:

Most Interesting Player - Male
Most Interesting Player - Female
Sexiest Player - Male
Sexiest Player - Female
Most Stylish Golf Outfit - Male
Most Stylish Golf Outfit - Female
Most Exciting Tournament - Male
Most Exciting Tournament - Female
Juciest Golf Gossip Item
Most Innovative New Golf Product
Best Golf Girl's Diary Post
Biggest Golf Blunder
Best Golf Blogger

...and any other categories I can think of between now and tomorrow. If you have any suggestions let me know and I'll try to include them. The only criteria is that they not be overly serious. I'd prefer to let the bloggers with more profound golf knowledge cover those lists. I'm fine with the fluffy stuff.

You can be sure be sure my list will be totally subjective... and possibly a bit controversial. So tune in tomorrow for the winners.

A Slightly Overindulgent Christmas Weekend

As predicted the weekend was a blissful blur of eating, drinking and gifting excess.

I got some great gifts: A $100 debit card for hitting balls at our driving range, a $500 gift card for Chris Clark's, where they have a huge selection of really cute golf clothes for size 2 Golf Girls... and the Paloma Picasso golf tee tool I've been yearning for. I gave some pretty good ones too. I Got Nick a Nikon Rangefinder and a golf cart heater. Both of which he really liked and both of which I'll surely accaparate borrow.

As predicted, Nick DID NOT get me the LV golf bag. Supposedly it was too expensive. OK, I guess he's just not that into me. Message to Nick: If you want to redeem yourself you better get it for me for my birthday...or be prepared to suffer the consequences.

It's a bit of a slow week for golf blogging, so I'm using this time to work on my list of New Year's resolutions. I've got it divided into three categories: Golf Goals, Blog/Writing Goals and Life Goals. I'm also making a Best of the Best of 2006 list, where I'll reveal my pics for best Golf Outfit, Golf Story, Golf Shot, Golf Scandal etc. That should be fun. I'll be posting about these things in the next few days.
I'm actually pretty psyched about what's to come in 2007. Especially that LV bag.

How About ...Naughty AND Nice?

I definitely think it's possible!

As long as the naughty isn't too naughty and the nice isn't too nice - it's all good. That's how I see it anyway. So I'm expecting lot's of good stuff under the tree. And I sincerely hope you, my readers, have been naughty and nice enough to warrant same. In any case, I want to Thank you SO MUCH for reading and commenting and emailing! This blog is only three months old but already I feel like it's a part of my identity. A good part. Like golf.

Just so you know, I won't be posting for a couple of days due to my schedule, which is as follows:

Tomorrow = office party

Saturday = recovering from office party + last minute shopping

Sunday = preparing for my own Christmas party + attending someone else's Christmas Eve party

Monday = Christmas, and I'm having everyone over for drinking and debauchery.

And maybe, just maybe, I'll fit a round of golf in somewhere. But, I'll definitely be back to blogging on Tuesday. Not too much worse for the wear, I hope. In the meantime, Warmest, warmest Wishes !


PS. I really don't think I'll be getting the LV Golf Bag. I haven't been that naughty. Damn. Well there's always next year.

A Night With Nick

No, I don't mean that Nick. He's just my caddie, official photographer and husband.

I mean this Nick.













And I mean Knight, not night.

That's right... the guys at Golf Punk, The UK's ultra-edgy Golf Magazine, have a campaign underway to get a Knighthood for Nick Faldo. It's not something we yanks can really relate to, but in Britan it's the ultimate mark of distinction. And lots of golf fans would like to see Sir Nick right there along with Sir Paul(McCartney), Sir Sean (Connery) and Sir David (Becham), as a Knight of the Realm. There's even an on-line petition you can sign to advocate for Nick's Knighthood. Admittedly, he's won 6 major titles and spent 81 weeks on top of the world rankings...but, like the Nick I know so intimately, Mr. Faldo is sometimes perceived as a pain in the ass aloof and difficult. Thus, along with his supporters he's got his fair share of detractors.

So, in the end, time will tell if they'll be Knighting Nick...and if the 2008 European Ryder Cup team will be captained by Sir Nicholas Alexander Faldo, Commander of the Most Excellent Order, or just plain Nick.

A Walk on the Beach with Camilo

The beach in question being Pebble and the Camilo...Villegas.

Sexy, Sizzling and Single. That's how People Magazine classifies Camilo Villegas... He's one of their "Hottest Bachelors of 2006", and from what I hear he's just as nice and as sweet as can be too. So I can hardly imagine anything that would be more...fun... exciting...dreamy...than being Camilo's Caddie at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-AM. I don't know what made me think I was up to that task, but as soon as I saw the contest (while purusing Men's Health for sex fitness tips) I entered it. I mean, what an AWESOME Prize that would be! Sadly, in my case, it was not to be. I got only four out of nine required questions right and was quickly eliminated. I suppose I wouldn't have served Camilo well with my spotty knowledge of golf rules. It was fun though...the contest...and beautifully produced, so definitely give it a try. As for me, I'll just have to go on dreaming.









They call Camilo "Spider Man" for obvious reasons.

Ernie's Back and Ready to Take on Tiger

By now everyone knows the sordid colorful details of my Ernie Els obsession. I've posted on the subject several times. Ad nauseum, Nick some would say. However, even I must admit, it wasn't looking good for the Ernie-obsessed through most of 2006. Things just weren't coming together the way we expected them to, and less than two weeks ago prominent bloggers were still asking,"What's happening to Ernie Els?"

That all changed over the weekend, though. For me personally, it was just another weekend of endless, well-lubricated Christmas parties, punctuated by one more stolen round of golf in CT's endless 2006 season. But for Ernie Els, and possibly for golf-as-we-watch-it in the 2007 season, it appeared to be a turning point. Ernie's victory in the SAA Open on Sunday allowed him, at the last minute, to maintain his proud record of "having won a tournament somewhere in the world every year since 1992", and it brought him back up to 5th on the World Ranking list. (He's now replaced fellow countryman Retief Goosen { sorry Ms. Retief-obsessed Jennifer } who has moved into 6th place, bumping Vijay Singh, down to 7th with recently promoted Padraig Harrington moving back to No 8.

Most importantly though, this victory has restored confidence to a player who - lets face it - is a dream to watch. Even if you don't find him sexy. It's also reinvigorated his quest to chase down Tiger for number one. And while even Ernie admits that,"...some people may find it laughable," he quickly adds that "it's one of the goals I want to achieve". It's strange - and a bit disconcerting - that so few players will even state this as a goal. Well, Ernie has almost made a career of it, and in his matches with Tiger have produced some of the most compelling golf ever.

So, I was really happy when, after this somewhat lost weekend, I found out that Ernie had won. I had no money on this tournament... no bets with Nick where a long week of servitude hung in the balance... but I imediately realized that the 2007 golf season now had the potential to be much more exciting.





More Ernie: If you can't get enough of the Big Easy, check out this post and this one. My fellow bloggers are writing about Ernie too.

Fitness Tips...And Other Useful Bits of Information

Core fitness is so important for golf. I hear it all the time so I'm constantly looking for ways to get more out of my workouts. After all, I know I'm going to be at the gym 3-5 times a week... why not make the most of it, right? Well, yesterday at work we were discussing this very subject, and a nerdly, elder statesmanesque colleague of mine told me to check out Men's Health. Men's Health? Well OK... it sounded kind of clinical and dry, but he assured me there were great fitness tips each month, so I thought, why not. Well, I read it yesterday on-line...and there were some good tips, in the paragraph called Fitness. But I've got to admit, I was so distracted by the surrounding paragraphs, and the Viagra ads, and the smoldering photos, that I almost didn't notice the Fitness paragraph. Somehow, I just didn't expect all that other content. Or I didn't expect it to be so...othery.You know what I mean? It made me wonder who's reading Men's Health...besides my curmudgeonly colleague...and what are said readers doing with all this information. Yes it definitely made me wonder. Anyway, I for one, am now closing my eyes and visualizing my posterior muscle groups, as instructed in the Fitness paragraph.

Oh and BTW, there's a great recipe on there for Apricot-Pecan Muffins.

Le Foulard Golf

If I could create a silk scarf, with a golf theme... this is precisely what it would look like. Lots of pink and turquoise...lots of flowers and whimsically rendered little golf things. Fortunately I don't have to create it. It's available for 90 € at the French Golf Federation's website. They ship internationally too. Leave it to the French to offer such a chic little item. After all, they spawned Hermes right? And guys: if you're thinking, "my girlfriend/wife/s.o. doesn't wear silk scarfs - she won't like that." ...Trust me. She will. Oh, and it's also available in a navy/pearl gray combination. In case the pink/turquoise makes you want to thow up or something.

Big Break VI: It Paid Off...for Golf Girl Bri, At Least

I posted at length about this in early October so I'm not going to waste much ink many keystrokes on it here. In retrospect, it didn't merit many in the first place, but what did I know then.

The debut episode of Big Break VI had just aired and and we were busy debating it's merits as a slickly produced reality show vs. a rather lame golf show... wondering if it would find it's promised cross-over audience thanks to the presence the morbidly fascinating Donald Trump and several hot Golf Girl contestants. Well, aparently it did. And it ultimately became wildly popular, both ratings-wise and on the Golf Channel discussion boards, where golf curmudgeons bickered at length about which of the girls was in fact, the hottest. But tragically, somewhere along the line, the Big Break quickly became a big bore. At least according to golf writer Tim McDonald. And I have to agree. After the first couple of episodes I kind of forgot all about The Big Break till last night when a winner finally prevailed. And imagine my delight when that winner was Briana, the beeatchy, brunette bra-fitter from MA! If you go back to my post from October you'll see that she was my pick from the get-go. (Insert smug, self-satisfied emoticon here) And maybe, outside of the hyper-edited reality show format we'll be able to see what she's really like.

Awesome Alvaro

Is he adorable, or what?
I just love the way the vest offsets the lime green striped shirt too. And you know... that's a really hard look to pull off... the short sleeved shirt under the knit vest...right? But Alvaro Quiros makes things work. Like he did at Dunhill over the weekend, with an awesome putt for eagle from 65 feet on the 18th... which literally shaved the hole... leaving him with an elegant little tap-in for birdie. This metrosexual Spaniard from Cadiz certainly seems to have it going on...in more ways than one. The only thing I don't like is his penchant for visors. Visors should be against the law, they're just wrong. However everything else about Alvaro is fine and I hope we see more of him, literally and figuratively.

UPDATE: Incriminating evidence of my own visor-wearing past...and the fact that I'm easily distracted while putting.

Partying + Playing Golf = A Weekend Well Spent

Season's Greetings from Patricia, Jordan and Cathleen.
(It took us four hours... and several strong drinks each to decorate that damn tree)

Cat and Pat, known on golf courses the world over as the Tap-in Twins.

On Saturday night we went to a festive party at the local Lebanese Church.

They never had parties like this at our Catholic Church. Maybe that's why we stopped going.


Sunday was beautiful. Mid 50s and sunny. And Candlewood was still open, so that's where we went.

Nick got very angry when I took his picture mid-swing...and threatened me with his driver.

...but Nick doesn't scare me at all, and I was putting really well thanks to some tips from Golfchick and my lucky Hannigan putter grip. I think the Tasty Golf Tees helped too. I chewed a cherry flavored tee all afternoon. Yum.

Last round of the season? Sadly, I suspect it was.

A New Teen Golf Sensation?

Well maybe she hasn't quite aquired Golf's Teen Sensation status yet, but Larissa Eruera, just won New Zealand Women's Amateur Championship at 14...the youngest winner ever. And she's already won the National Maori championship. Ok, she hasn't played much outside of her country but but she's hoping for a scholarship to a US University, and intends to be playing on a NZ team by 2008. With a role model like Michael Campbell and enough determination, she may soon be vying with MW for TGS status.

BTW - Love,love,love the Argyle Sweater.

Michelle's Jingle Balls

I found this ad somewhere in Sunday's over-stuffed New York Times, and I've gotta say it freaked me out. It seems that in between practicing for the Sony Open, applying for early admissions to Stanford, and being named one of Time Magazines "100 People who Shape our World", Michelle still has time to build snowmen and string golf balls. That's just crazy! And it makes me feel like I'm way, way behind on this Christmas thing. Starbucks has been in red cups for weeks and I've only bought two presents! And they're both for me. I have done some Christmas stuff; I've put up the misletoe and found a couple of good recipes for eggnog shooters. But I'm still not nearly up to where little Ms. Wie is. And that bothers me. Is she channeling Martha Stewart or something? Anyway, this weekend I'm definitely going to catch up on my shopping, make my cookies, and string some golf balls. That is, unless I can find a course that's still open, cause it's supposed to get all the way up to 42 degrees.

What's On Your Ipod?

1. Golf Girl Caravan

2. Straight Down the Middle Bing Crosby

3.One Week Barenaked Ladies

4. Agusta, Sweet Agusta Billy Mac

5. The Back Nine Loudon Wainwright III

Thanks to Matt Hendrickson at GolfOnline I've now got a golf-themed playlist! There are more songs in his article but these were the ones I liked. And I'm beginning to feel like I need a break from melting snowmen and ruddy reindeer round about now.

The Wonderful World of Winter Golf

I'm writing this from my office in Danbury CT at 5:15pm. It's 31 degrees outside right now, the dark night illuminated only by a waning harvest moon. It's windy enough to make it feel 10 degrees colder. I'm getting ready to head out to the driving range. The range is heated of course, but it's still daunting to go out on a winter night. We're closing in on the shortest day of the year, so it'll soon be getting better. That's how I comfort myself, anyway. All these winter images got me to thinking about Sweden. Despite it's frosty climate and long winter nights, Sweden seems to produce lots of high level golfers. It's estimated that 6% of Swedes play golf, one of the highest percentages of any country in the world. Obviously the stalwart Swedes are out on the range in all temperatures and weather conditions. Are the Euros just tougher than us? I mean, check this out: In the French Alps they even play snow golf. So that's it, I'm not going to be a wimp. I'm ready to face the harsh winter night. And spring can't be that far off, can it?

Winter Golf and a Week of Servitude

This morning I got up early and cleaned Nick's clubs. They were really a mess after a weekend of rough, wet golf. When I get home from work later I'll be polishing Nick's golf shoes. Nick has eight pairs of golf shoes, that's sixteen individual shoes. I hate polishing shoes. There will also be the massages, the daily hour-long deep-tissue massages that Nick is insisting on. You know how tiring that is? And of course there are all those things I can't mention here, you know what they are. Well, servitude is servitude and Furyk's win at the Nedbank yesterday put me solidly in the roll of submissive servant till Friday. Nick's man Furyk won - my man Ernie didn't. But Ernie tried so hard and I appreciate that. I'm thinking it must have been ultra-stressful for him to know that my freedom was dependant on his winning. So much so that he actually threw his club violently at the 14th hole during his third round on Saturday. Got fined 1,000 Rand for it too. That's so unlike Ernie. ...and he's so cute when he's mad. BTW - Sergio got fined for throwing clubs too. I guess I'm just attracted to those bad-boy types. Oh well.

Other than the Nedbank fiasco, my weekend was won-der-ful! We played on Saturday and Suday. Saturday at Oxford Greens, a relatively new course about 40 minutes from chez nous. It was true December golf; icy cold and blustery, with only a few stalwart souls on the course. We weren't too impressed with the course but I think that had more to do with the stark time of year than anything else, and I'm looking forward to playing it again come spring. On Sunday we played at Candlewood Valley. Though still cold, it was less windy, thus felt warmer. And I had made a thermos full of Hot Rum Chocolate which we sipped throughout our game. It was quite heavenly. Our last round of CT golf for the season, I strongly suspect, so good to end it on a happy note. And I'm sure I'll get through the week of servitude...even though I'm already tired of wearing the French Maid costume.

A CT golf course in winter. This was Sunday at Candlewood Valley.

I like winter golf...as long as I can bring along my hat, mittens and hot rum chocolate.

Nick always keeps his balls clean. Fortunately.

Nedbank News

Nick's gloating got louder today as Furyk again played flawlessly in South Africa. As I posted earlier this week, we're betting on this one....and now Nick's guy has a four stroke lead. Gulp. But I'm desperate optimistic, and I see a glimmer of hope. My guy, Ernie, The Big Easy, now looks like he's ready to come to the rescue. Right? Please say I'm right. He's definitely playing much better. He shot a 67 today and moved to five-under for the tournament, still five shots behind Nick's friend Furyk, but it's a deficit that he could well make-up on the weekend. If he doesn't, I'm screwed. It's as simple as that.