An elder golfer in Laguna once told me I should be watching more of the LPGA than the PGA Tour. I was struggling with rhythm, always trying to overpower the ball.
But I was already into women’s golf then, in fact, I remember the Seoul sisters making their mark. I just didn’t understand the swing. I was inspired, though, and believed pint-sized players like me could shine as I spent hours watching Mi Hyun Kim.
Women power
This week, women get to grab a share of the limelight as Lipa City provides the platform with the 1st Lipa City Fiesta Barako Golf Tournament at Summit Point Golf and Country Club and Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club this week.
The women can team up with the men and seniors or form all-female teams.“Wala silang separate na division. Kasama talaga sila sa competition among the men,” said Summit Point Golf and Country Club general manager Vic de Guzman.
“Ito’y dahil naririnig namin yung clamor ng ibang sector ng golfing community tulad ng mga kababaihan who want to take part in big tournaments. Hopefully and
‘Big-time’ events
The tournament will have around 70 teams with a four-to-play three-to-count format.
That’s some 300 shotmakers playing two days in two world-class golf courses in Lipa City, which is aiming to make its mark as a top golf tourism destination.
“Once you have established that your tournament is value for money, competitive, fair, at the same time maganda ang suporta ng local government, nararamdaman nila na safe sila, maganda and environment, I don’t see any reason why the tournament would not go big,” De Guzman said.
The tournament is being held as part of the city’s fiesta celebration, along with activities such as the 9th Mario D. Africa Sr. Memorial Chess Cup at the Lipa City Convention Center, the Flavours of Lipa Food Fair and the Traje de Mestiza Fashion Show at Plaza Independencia, the Mutya ng Lipa coronation and the Grand Float Parade.
It has been a while since I got lessons from a golf coach. I felt I improved more by watching and listening to a friend who has a handicap of 12.
I have been looking for a good coach to help bring me to a decent level. It has been tough, as consistently get a cringe-comedy vibe from driving range pro lessons I overhear from nearby hitting bays.
Recently during practice in Alabang, I heard a female pro discuss the swing with a 30-something man who already had good mechanics. It was probably the most impressive conversation I heard between coach and player in years.
I recognized the coach from Ladies Philippine Golf Tour photos. “Nagtuturo pala sya dito.”
