I recently received an invitation to my nephew's birthday party.  I'm not thrilled about the event because my nephew is turning two, and all of his friends are two-ish, and I believe wholeheartedly in the terrible twos.

Age two is when kids have tantrums. It's when they sometimes resort to biting you to get their way. It's when they hate to sleep, or even go down for a short nap. Twos take pleasure in creating chaos.

I've got to say, Fredrick is very cute. He's smart, and generally well behaved, but he too has his moments.  The one's where he destroys everything in the room. After all, he's turning two.

Fred's not a total stranger to golf. He watches it almost every Sunday on TV with his Dad, and has already developed an appreciation for Tiger Woods. His vocabulary is somewhat limited, but he quickly mastered the fist pump.

Anyway, I was happy to discover that nowadays, there are lots of children's books on the subject of golf. I just ordered a couple for Fred.  They're from a series by Susan Greene featuring a family of golfing teddy bears. They teach kids about numbers, letters, safety and etiquette, with sweet illustrations and rhyming verse.   The characters are adorable (of course they are - they're teddy bears) and it seems, from customer reviews, that the series is a big hit with the under three set.

I think it's an awesome way to get kids interested in golf before they're quite ready to play.  I know Tiger was swinging a club at age two but if I gave Fred one at this point, I'm pretty sure he'd probably want to hit someone with it... or maybe eat it.

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It's not Pebble Beach... or the Jack Daniels Country Club, for that matter... but it owes it's name to that boozy gathering of golfers, businessmen and celebs that defined Bing Crosby's costal California tournament.

It's Scot Duke's talk show on Blog TV,and I'll be his guest on the ClamBake Cafe, this Thursday, February 28, at 7PM central time. 

Scot is known on the internet as Mr. Business golf and we'll be talking about golf and the internet, and what it's like to run a golf blog.  And the best part is: it's interactive!  You can ask questions or make statements via IM while we host the show...LIVE. 

So don't forget to stop by here on Thursday evening. I'll be looking forward to your questions and I'll be pouring a nice Cabernet.

http://www.thegolfgirl.blogspot.com

Although there's recently been a lot of ink spilled on the decline of golf in the US. there's one unlikely place, not far from our shores, that seems set to give golf a major push: The Caribbean island nation of Cuba.

Now that Castro has turned over the government to his brother Raul, there are many who believe, or at least hope, that Cuba will become a freer country, and ultimately a golf destination.

One thing's for sure, little bro Raul appears to be far more receptive to the idea of golf development than the elder Castro was.  Rumor has it Fidel Castro soured on golf back in the 60s when he lost a match to future socialist t-shirt icon, Ernesto Che Guevara. Soon after this defeat Fidel turned most of Cuba's courses into schools or museums or government compounds, and only two are functioning as courses today. That's what Raul wants to change.  He's working with Cuban minister of tourism, Manuel Marrero, on plans for no less than ten new courses on the island.

There are even a couple of projects underway for residential golf communities. That's quite amazing when you consider that  communist Cuba doesn't currently allow property ownership.  Many feel that this type of development may in itself be a catalyst for the reform of Cuban property laws.

For the time being golfer's options are the 9-hole course at the retro Havana Golf Club or the 18 hole course built around a former DuPont mansion at Cuba's beautiful Varadero beach.   Of course neither is an  option for US citizens at the moment due to our government's travel and trade embargo.  I, for one am hoping this too will be reevaluated in light of the changes currently taking place in Cuba. 

My Cohiba loving husband is lusting to be part of the "Havana Invitational and Cigar Lover's Golf Classic", and threatening to break the law.

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This was the view from my kitchen window earlier today.  Thick white frosting on tangled black branches. The privet hedge, so full and green and opaque in summer, now spindly, and almost transparent.  Even the finches that crowd this tree all winter, feasting on its tiny crimson berries, are tucked in their nests for the time being. It's nice to sleep-in on a winter morning, they know that.

So what of golf on days like this?  Those living in year-round warm climates must wonder.   

Here in CT, we generously hand over our hilly courses to sledders and tobogganers, who speed down the slopes, most with no regard  for the length of a particular fairway or the pitch of a green. We go to impromptu "golf sales" set up in motel meeting rooms by enterprising golf retailers and buy things we'd never buy in season.  We watch the pros play on TV and read all manner of golf books and magazines.

More than anything else though, we visualize the beautiful swing we'll have once we do get out again. We imagine the shots and strategies we'll put in to effect once the snow clears and the course is again ours to play on.  And everything seems possible during this frosty hiatus.  A Tiger Woods 35 foot eagle putt? Totally do-able. Karrie Webb's 255 yard drive? No problem hitting that with my new swing.

We Northeastern, Midwestern and Rocky Mountain golfers  have one thing our warm weather friends don't: A magical off-season where the imagination magnificently soars.

Like one of those Tiger tee shots.

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Here in Southwestern CT, it's late afternoon, and we're preparing for what's being called "a substantial snowfall". Many local schools have already cancelled tomorrow's classes, and I see my neighbor's kids tinkering with their sleds and saucers, though the first flake has yet to fall. Obviously, there'll be no golf for me this weekend, the blizzard is meant to last for most of the day, ending at dusk tomorrow. In a way it's just as well; I've been overdoing the driving range lately and feel a twinge of tendinitis coming on. So, what I'm planning to do is immerse myself in a book I've been wanting to read for ages.

John Updike is best known for his ribald tales of sex in suburbia in the mid-20th century, rendered in prose so heartbreakingly lyrical it takes your breath away.  His characters inhabit New England towns like the one I grew up in, and their hedonistic quest for the meaning of life inevitably leads them to adulterous liaisons that end badly. 

Many of these flawed and fragile characters play golf, which makes sense; not only because of the country club world they inhabit, but also because Mr. Updike is a passionate golfer himself.  But, the book I intend to spend the weekend with is not an imaginative account of adultery on a leafy cul-de-sac, It's Golf Dreams, Updike's  collection of essays, poems and short fiction, originally written for publications such as The New Yorker and Golf Digest.  There are also excerpts from his award winning fiction. 

I've got to admit I've already peeked between the covers. I read a small section, a paragraph or two, and from what I read... from those few soaring sentences... I know I'm not going to miss golf this weekend,  because I'm going to be totally immersed in it.

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I definitely don't agree with the findings of Professor Richard Wiseman of Hertfordshire University in England. 

His study of over 6000 adults, indicates that golf does nothing to increase a man's attractiveness to the opposite sex. In fact among the women of this survey golf came out dead last in sex-appeal enhancement out of a list of 15 sports. Rock climing was first.  Yes, rock climbing.

The professor theorized that golf's abysmal rating had to do with the fact that golfers are often not in good shape, and even when they're buff they tend to cover up with multiple layers of the dorkiest duds. Rock climbers on the other hand need to be in top physical condition, and frequently wear very little.

The news in not much better for us gals.  Only 18% of men felt that golf made us sexier, prefering instead to see us engage in ... aerobics.  It seems leotards and leg warmers trump skorts and polos in most male minds.

As I said at the beginning, I don't buy Professor Wiseman's conclusion.  However, I do think we golfers should all make an effort to shape up and get stylish ...because I don't think many of us will be taking up aerobics or rock climbing anytime soon.

www.thegolfgirl.blogspot.com

The news came out of Boston on Friday and it's getting lots of ink: Elaine Joyce, an amateur golf champion, is suing the town of Dennis, MA and its two public golf courses. She's suing because she was barred from playing in a tournament there last Spring.  It was a member-member tournament at Dennis Pines golf course, a pastoral public course on Cape Cod, and she had signed up to play with her Father. Both are members at Dennis, both are taxpayers.

Well, to add insult to injury, Joyce was never actually told first hand about her exclusion from the tournament. Her Dad was called and told that he was welcome to play, but only if he found a male partner, as "historic policy" dictated that this event be reserved exclusively for men.  Evidently no one had the... um... testicular fortitude to confront Joyce directly. You see, Joyce has a history of taking on the guys about these kinds of issues, and winning.

A decade ago Joyce won the right to play with an exclusive Cape Cod men's group, the "Forty Thieves." (perhaps so-called because of consistently "stealing" all the good tee times) Of course, once Joyce began competing with these guys, the hostility started. The men who were paired with her would simply walk off the course, or they'd refuse to speak to her during rounds. One guy even told her he would play in a tournament with her only if she played naked. Now, that's really high-minded isn't it? Come to think of it, a few guys have told me the same thing, but then I don't play nearly as well as Joyce.  And I think that's a big part of this.

Here's the thing: under the 14th Amendment, public courses like those in Dennis have an obligation to provide "equal access" to all citizens. Now, Dennis officials are saying that Joyce does have equal access, because there are tournaments for women, and they're held on weekends and she's free to play in them.  And it would be difficult to argue that point for a highish handicapper like...let's say... moi.  However Joyce has a ridiculously low, single digit handicap, and there's only one other woman at the club with a single digit handicap. So in fact, Joyce is being denied equal access... to play with golfers who play at her level, or better. The town's separate but equal argument does not actually work in Joyce's case.   

Joyce contends that "The only way to get better is to play with and watch people that are better than you," and she's living proof of that. Once she was finally allowed to play with the "Forty Thieves," her handicap dropped from 5 to 3. (Sorry , but those number don't even seem real to me).

It'll be really interesting to see how this turns out.  Joyce is obviously a fighter, on the golf course and in life, so I'm pretty sure she and her Dad will be playing together in that member-member eventually.

Illustration - Patricia Hannigan/Golf Girl Media

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This portly U.S. President was our 1st golf-obsessed Commander-in-Chief. 

My knowledge of presidential history is shamefully limited, and I've got to admit I had no idea who it was when I came upon the photo. In fact, it's William Howard Taft, our 27th president. He was in the White House from 1909 through 1913, and I was amazed to read about his presidency, and about America during the early years of the last century.  I swear, I studied U.S. history... but I've obviously forgotten most of the details.  And those details are quite compelling.

The paunchy politician's proclivity for golf is well documented. His infatuation with the sport caused a golf craze in the nation. The population of players on the publinks doubled. Taft's obsession wasn't always appreciated though, there were some who felt he spent too much time playing, and too little time governing.

William Taft was a large man as you can see from the photo. He had a 54 in waist. - Yes, I said he was big - I love the English cap though...and the idiosyncratic swing.

And doesn't our first presidential golf guy remind you of a certain contemporary player? I wonder if they ever called WHT, "the walrus".

For me, the idea of living in a golf community is at turns, appealing and abhorrent. 

On the one hand, I think of the sheer convenience of having my home, golf, gym, and country club all contained within an easy-to-manage and familiar comfort zone.  I picture an active, elegant social life, with fascinating, high class neighbors... and judging by the photos on the golf communitiy websites... all of those neighbors would be extremely attractive and very well dressed.  Yes, you guessed it, I've been googling "luxury golf communities" again.

I do that on snowy Connecticut evenings.  I surf from one site to another, admiring the stunning green vistas and beautifully designed luxury homes, and envying all those pretty people; drinking wine on shady terraces, horseback riding in autumnal forests, exercising at the state-the-art health clubs.  Then there are the golf courses!  Each community seems to have several, and they're all designed by the masters: Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Gary Player...Tiger freaking Woods!

So, that's where the appealing impression of the golf community lifestyle comes from. However, there seems to be another side...a darker one, that's not apparent in the evocative web brochures.  We know personally, a number of people who have left the chill of Connecticut for golf communities in Florida and Arizona, only to return within a year. They initially claimed to be back because they missed their families, but it soon became clear that life within these gated bastions of meticulously planned perfection, was not always ideal. Whether it was the uniformity of the architecture... or the draconian rules of the associations... or the one-dimensional profile of the pampered population, life in a golf community just didn't cut it for these people.  My parents have several friends who made a round trip as well. They felt suppressed, programed, isolated and intelectually unstimulated. So you see, there are definitely two sides to golf course living. I assume much depends on the individual community, and that means you'll want to do some pretty extensive homework on this subject.

I have a feeling it'll be a number of years before I can afford the golf course lifestyle I want, so I have time to do some research.  For the moment I'm in love with a community in the Carolinas called The Cliffs. When you enter their website, you're greeted by the lilting voice of James Taylor singing Carolina on my Mind.  - man, I love that song - and all the pretty people are there, just having an awesome time. I'm happy again.

Needless to say I have the site bookmarked.

www.thegolfgirl.blogspot.com

...I want these now, and I'm counting on you.

This was the sweet, sentimental Valentine's Day message I sent to my husband this morning. He should be receiving it a bit later today.

I'm not an overly traditional type so I just forwarded the LadyGolf email right on to his office. Isn't technology wonderful?

The remarkable ruby slippers are by Unutzer and they're called the "Flame" shoe. (Yes boys, shoes do have names). Oh, and they cost $465, but that shouldn't be a problem, after all, it's Valentine's Day.

www.thegolfgirl.blogspot.com

I know, New York City is not the first place that comes to mind when you think of golf. However, unbeknownst to most, there's a veritable bastion of golf culture right in the heart of midtown Manhattan.

Just steps from Grand Central Station and a couple of blocks from Rockefeller Center are the offices of Golf Digest Publications.

I made my way down there last week, from my quiet CT suburb, to meet with some of the amazing golf girls who make this site, and Golf for Women magazine, so engaging and informative.

It was one of those crisp New York winter days... all frosty air and clear blue skies, and I was greeted by Alena Bubniak, GFW web editor, who showed me around the maze of offices. It was immediately clear from the conversations I caught, that everyone here lives and breaths golf. They've even got their own office putting green. How's that for a company perk? 

We were soon joined by Associate Editor Ashley Mayo, who I found out, shares my affinity for hip-hop on the practice range. Turns out her play list is almost identical to mine, and includes plenty of Kanye and 50 and Snoop.

Later we stepped out for lunch with amazing Editor-in-Chief Susan Reed, and Senior Editor, Stina Sternberg, who BTW, looks exactly like she does on TV: Gor-geous. Over guacamole and ceviche, we discussed golf fashion, club house culture, gender issues and all the things that make golf so fascinating and so much fun. And... that's what I'm going to be blogging about here on Golf For Women. Yes, I'll be posting regularly here... exclusive posts on the thought provoking issues, the controversial questions and the fun stuff.

I look forward to sharing it all with you, here on GFW.

www.thegolfgirl.blogspot.com