Yikes, it is hard to believe that it’s November already and 2019 is coming to a close. I feel like this year flew by and the top 3 goals I set for myself in the month of January were stabbed at but not completely realized…My Top 3 Goals in the New Year
I do, however, have something I’m particularly proud of this year: namely improving on my game of Golf.
Thanks to the Lyman Orchards Golf Center I spent the majority of my Summer and more than half of my Fall golfing. And Summer started late this year in Connecticut – remember the month of May?!? I had to count it out for starting play as it was rainy and miserable. Consequently I did not pick up my clubs until mid-June but then I made up for it by playing until the last weekend of October.
I learned a lot this year both on the course and off. I had previously taken Golf Fore Women 101 (last September 2018) so some of what I learned this year felt like a refresher course but in a good way Ready Fore Golf
However, the majority of what I learned I took and turned into real application on the course. And I had the added benefit of being taught and supervised by the award-winning LPGA Class A Teaching Professional Marissa Kulig Crow as well as her 2 trusty teammates Dan Hannibal and Andra Frappier…
LPGA Class A Teaching Professional Marissa Kulig Crow (in the purple Calloway Golf hat)
PGA Associate Teaching Professional Dan Hannibal
PGA Apprentice Teaching Professional Andra Frappier (in the lime green golf shirt and glasses)
June
Golf Fore Women 201 with LPGA Class A Teaching Professional Marissa Kulig Crow – club selection
Trying out my swing on the putting green
Getting good use out of my club on the course, as opposed to the driving range
July
Golf Fore Women 201 with Marissa Kulig Crow in black
Golf Fore Women 201 – learning how to stand correctly
It was a hotttttt one on the Apple 9 today! I’ll never forget this day: Saturday, July 20th!
Golf fore Women 201 – Marissa’s in black
Golf fore Women 201 – another fun day with my new lady golf friends
Ending the day with my old (starter) set of clubs
August
Golf fore Women 301 – The Apple 9 course is our classroom now (smile).
Coincidentally my workplace, News 8, held a client golf appreciation day at Lyman’s Player Course which I had the distinct pleasure of playing in (as opposed to volunteering to drive the bar cart)
I didn’t only play at Lyman this Summer – me and my bf managed to squeeze in 9 holes at Sleeping Giant in Hamden the last Saturday in August
September
Practice with a Pro x 2 with Dan Hannibal
Make-up session with Marissa Kulig Crow
Happy Surprise on the Apple 9: me and my bf (a 2some) had the pleasure of being matched up as a 4some with this young lady and her husband on a crowded Sunday in late September – we played a good match and made some new friends
October
Player Course this time with my new lady golf friend Mary Ann, one of The Fab 4 (smile)
The Fab 4 now at Player Course honing our skills – on an overcast and rainy day
The Fab 4 at Player Course cutting up (smile)
The Fab 4 at Player Course – photo shoot (smile)
On the Apple 9 – the very last day of the season for me
Margot me and Jill on the Apple 9, my very last day of Golf for the season- it was sunny but quite chilly…
Sooooo…I finally broke down at the end of October and invested in some new clubs. And I actually played with them the last 2 weekends of the month. I must admit that my game has improved with my new set of clubs (smile). Not trying to rush time but I sure can’t wait ’till next Summer (double smile).
So glad I finally got off my duff last summer and signed up for golf lessons for women (smile).
Here’s what happened: I was leafing through the Hamden/North Haven Adult Ed catalog when I happened upon a course listing in the Enrichment Class section called Golf Fore Women 101. It felt serendipitious as I have been talking about taking golf lessons for what felt like ages so I promptly called to register for the Saturday morning 5-week session.
Then I called my girlfriend and broadcast industry colleague Ginger, who, like me, owned her own set of golf clubs but still did not know how to play. Ginger was grateful that I thought of her and I felt lucky to know her (smile).
Me and Ginger
The reason why I felt so lucky was because I actually bought my own set of golf clubs 11 years ago but for some reason or another, nothing ever seemed to come together for me in terms of taking golf lessons or being consistent about actually wanting to play. Here’s the rundown:
2007
I purchased my own set of “lady” golf clubs (down to the shoes, hat, gloves, pink golf balls, etc.) and although I initially had good intentions, this set mostly sat in my garage collecting dust…
My set of lady golf clubs
2011/2012/2013/2014
Since by now I stillhad not learned how to play, I spent multiple years volunteering as a “driver” at our News 8 company golf event at Yale delivering beverages and snacks to the “players.”
Driving the golf cart stocked with beverages and snacks on Yale’s golf course
2015
I finally took two private lessons (a gift from my bf) at Lyman Golf Center in Middlefield, CT with John Wilson, who came highly recommended from a former News 8 co-worker and female golfer.
At the annual Travelers Tournament in Cromwell, CT (one of my fave live golfing events and spectator sports)
Always a good time for spectators at the Travelers Tourney
2018
By now I was so desperate I even fake caddied for my boyfriend last Summer while he enjoyed ‘the game’ (smile).
‘Fake’ caddying for my man
And it was right after this fake caddy momentwhen I happened upon the Enrichment course listing in the Hamden/North Haven Adult Ed catalog…
Golf Fore Women 101
The Saturday morning Fall classes I registered for ran from September 15 – October 13 (10am -11am) and consisted of about 10 women. Our first session was mostly in the classroom where we talked about ourselves and what brought us there and then learned about Golf from a theoretical perspective.
My Saturday morning classmates – I’m gonna miss these ladies
Let me tell you, there is a lot to learn here. Golf is truly a game of and for life… Throughout our introductory 5-week course Marissa Kulig Crow, our LPGA Coach and Club Professional, patiently taught us the following:
Essentials – equipment selection and approprate golf attire
Golf Clubs
Golf Course Layout
Golf Terms
Golf Scores
Forms of Golf Games
Golf Shots
Networking
Stretching and Yoga
Golf Etiquette 101
Lesson 1– The Driving Range
My first time on the Driving range in a long while and I’m a little rusty…
Lesson 2 – The Full Swing
The full swing – one of my personal favorites
Lesson 3 – Chipping/Pitching/Sand
Tubing – catching golf balls on the Green with a long tube. By the way, Chipping/Pitching/Sand Wedge was probably one of the most difficult lessons
Lesson 4 – On the Putting Green
This is where I need the most practice – it’s called ‘the short game’
Lesson 5 – The Apple 9 Hole course
It felt funny golfing on this 9 hole course after spending time practicing on the driving range and putting green. We played 3 holes during our last lesson. I’m soooo looking forward to next Summer and Fall where I can start perfecting my game (smile).
Marissa Kulig Crow, our LPGA Coach and Club Professional and yours truly on the Apple 9 Golf course
