SAVE THE DATE: Lawrence Taylor’s 7th Annual Throwback Celebrity Golf Weekend April 24-26, 2015. For more information on registration and sponsorship opportunities, contact Paula Tucker at [email protected]
Dec. 9, 2014
“The Ryder Cup Task Force met today at PGA of America Headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. for more than four hours. It was a very productive meeting where all Task Force members were engaged in thoughtful dialogue. We discussed a wide array of issues including the selection process for Captains and Vice Captains and more. Today was the beginning of a process that is designed to create the conditions for long term Ryder Cup success. We have more work to do and look forward to gathering again to complete the work of the Task Force. Once we have significant news to report from these meetings, we will be happy to share that with you.”
Ryder Cup Task Force Members:
Derek Sprague, Co-chair
Pete Bevacqua, Co-chair
Paul Levy, Vice President, PGA of America
Raymond Floyd
Rickie Fowler
Jim Furyk
Tom Lehman
Davis Love III
Phil Mickelson
Steve Stricker
Tiger Woods
Ladies call all the shots with the new line-up of Hybrid Designer Ladies Golf Bags by Birdie Babe Golf. The colorful designs are a whole new take from those big, heavy, old-fashioned golf bags of years gone by. Now women golfers can display a fresh, chic look on the course while having all the best features of a stand bag and a cart bag all rolled up into one.
Birdie Babe Golf makes these awesome bags, as functional as they are adorable, to take you from the first tee box through many rounds, for years to come. After much research, they know exactly “what women want”, (in a golf bag anyway) and have introduced these new improved “hybrid” bags that is designed especially for women. Key product functions and benefits include:
- Lightweight design – just 5 lbs, unlike many heavy cart bags
- Bottom designed to sit on a cart
- Cart strap holder to keep it secure on a cart
- Stand available so you can set it down without falling over
- Velcro stand holder to keep it from activating when you don’t want it to
- Removable carry strap so you can easily tuck it away
- Insulated cooler pocket that holds two, 20 oz, bottles
- Lots of pockets for all your stuff
- Tee holder for easy access to your tees
- Velour valuables pocket
- Matching rain hood 8-way top
Shown left: Bahama Mama golf bag! (MSRP: $219.00)–check holiday savings, now listed at $195!! Plus, get a 20% discount using code AAG20. The Hybrid Designer Ladies Golf Bags by Birdie Babe Golf makes a great gift for yourself or any lady golfer. There’s always free shipping with orders in the U.S.A. See a full line of fun golf accessories that are also available including headcovers, pushcarts, golf travel bags, gloves, towels, clothing, hats and visors. For more information visit birdiebabegolf.com
When it comes to college scholarships for junior golfers:
Advantage girls
Several years ago, Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Florida, ran three separate junior golf tournaments. According to Dawn Mercer, Innisbrook’s Director of Instruction, the events drew 169 boys and 49 girls aged 19 and younger or a ratio of 4:1. This ratio is typical of junior golf participation.
Since there are fewer girls than boys participating in junior level golf, the girls have many more opportunities to play on college teams. There’s no doubt that golf is fast becoming one of the most competitive of college sports, especially in women’s sports. This creates an abundance of college golfing scholarship opportunities, a fact that has largely been ignored in the past.Recently, there were about 253 Division I, 168 Division II, and 175 Division III schools sponsoring women’s golf teams. Division I schools are allowed to offer the equivalent of 6 full scholarships for women while Division II schools are allowed to offer the equivalent of 5.4. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships.
While it is difficult to confirm the number of women’s golf scholarships that were not awarded in recent years, it is estimated that more than 200 of the available girl’s golf scholarships went unused. The simple reason is that there are not enough young ladies playing golf. With the implementation of Title IX, colleges are required to have the same numbers of athletic scholarships for females and males. This provides a huge opportunity for female golfers. Colleges and universities that belong to the NCAA typically offer sports at the Division I, II, and III level. Only about 2% of high school athletes are offered even a small sports scholarship from a Division I or Division II college. But it’s at the Division III level and its 400+ schools that the opportunities are enhanced and are discussed here.
Division III colleges do not offer athletic scholarships. Those are restricted to Division I or II schools. But that doesn’t mean the Division III schools take their programs lightly or that they are not competitive. It simply means that the student-athletes are playing for the love of playing and competing. It also means that golfers who may not have the opportunity to be competitive in a Division I or II program can still participate and enjoy the benefits of being a member of a competitive collegiate program. Further, most of the Division III schools do an excellent job of providing financial aid in the form of academic scholarships, need-based grants and loans. Division III student-athletes are usually surprised at the amount of non-athletic financial assistance available to them and the quality of competition. In fact, a non-athletic financial aid package (based on grades and test scores or financial need, or both), could be worth more than a partial golf scholarship
When you qualify for need-based financial aid or a merit scholarship of some sort (academics, arts, etc.) then you are eligible for and more likely to receive money to attend a Division III school. Better still, some Division III schools tend to favor athletic prospects. They just don’t offer money for playing a specific sport such as golf. But, what the schools can (and often) do is “sweeten the pot”.
Suppose your family qualifies for needs-based financial aid and your daughter (or son) is playing or has played on the high school golf team. Rather than awarding a financial assistance package that consists mostly of an interest loan and some grant money, the college may offer a scholarship that is all or predominantly grant money. Or, if the college is unable to offer financial assistance, they may be able to compensate by increasing the odds of admission. The point here is that if there is a school that interests your child, it doesn’t hurt to contact the coach and express your child’s interest in attending and playing at that particular school. These schools are always trying to attract the best student golfers that have equally impressive academic records or are able to demonstrate a deep need for financial aid.
There is a place for most girls who want to compete in golf for a Division III school. A girl has a tremendous opportunity, especially at the Division III level, if she has a handicap of 15 or less, can score in the 80-110 range on a 5800 yard course, and has competed in state or local tournaments. If she can break 85 from the forward tees and 100 from the middle tees, she has potential for a college team. The bottom line is if she can score around 95 under tournament conditions, college is a strong possibility.
There are plenty of schools in need of female players. Visit www.golfstat.com for a list of many of the Division I, II, and III schools and their current rankings. Most Division I and II schools recruit 1-2 years in advance while Division III schools work in the summer leading up to one’s senior year.
Besides the NCAA, there are two other leading college athletic associations:
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
Both these organizations and their schools have scholarships available and present wonderful opportunities for young women athletes. In fact, it is in these organizations that most scholarships go unused. Scholarships at NJCAA are much less competitive because not enough students know about them and the coaches are not aware of the available talent.
While recruiting timelines are very general in nature, there are some common elements that need to be followed.
- Freshman, sophomores, and juniors should pay close attention to their grades and class rank.
- They should play in enough high school and junior events in order to establish a handicap and tournament record.
- Keep working on and improving their game with particular emphasis on the short game.
- Narrow down the college list and make a number of unofficial visits
- Sophomores and juniors should begin researching various schools of interest
- Meet with enrolled contemporaries and ask a lot of questions about the school, its program and coaches.
- Take the SAT by your junior year.
- Register for the NCAA Eligibility Center to certify academic and amateur credentials
- Send personal introduction letters to the school’s golf coach and include your golfing resume
Many Division III coaches recommend selecting schools within a player’s geographic comfort zone for competition travel, as well as schools that fit the student’s academic and size criteria. They caution that players need to be realistic about their fit for a particular college based on rankings. Once a student has selected a target list of potential schools, she should send out about 20 letters to potential schools working from Division I through Division III depending upon her golfing skill. A list of all golf coaches and how to contact them can be accessed from www.collegegolf.com.
Parents may do well by introducing their children to golf, especially daughters, and encouraging them to participate in the many junior golf programs held throughout the country. Keeping golf simple and fun can return big dividends down the road.
Individuals in the photos are:
Trasheria Goodwin Student at Rickards HS, Tallahassee, Florida
Jeffrey Rauschenberg Golf Coach at Rickards HS, Tallahassee, Florida
John Mooshie, a freelance writer from Wakulla Springs, Florida writes on a broad range of golf and travel related subjects for various magazines.
ABOUT the Louis-Cristal Cruise Ship
WATCH THE VIDEO!!! — SEE THIS GORGEOUS SHIP!
The Louis Cristal is a luxurious cruise ship, with a unique yaught -like modern design and a cruising speed of 18 knots. She features an array of amenities with all the comforts of an upscale vessel, spacious staterooms and suites, elegant lounges and restaurants, internet corner and open promenades.
All 480 staterooms are equipped with shower, WC, wash basin, telephone, hairdryer & TV and can accommodate max. 1,200 passengers on board. On board Cristal you will enjoy our delicious variety at buffet Traviata or dine more formally in the elegant La Scala and Caruso Restaurants. Enjoy the sun & sea breeze at Riviera pool bar, sip your favourite drink at Romeo & Juliet Bar and have lots of fun in the Metropolitan Show Lounge and Stars Lounge & Disco with a fantastic view of the starlit night and the endless ocean.
Other facilities feature Monte Carlo casino, Internet Corner, 2 conference rooms, photo gallery, Duty Free & Travel Value shops, swimming pool, whirlpool bath, fitness centre, beauty salon, spa & massage. The vessel is fully air-conditioned, has stabilizers, telephone, fax, satellite telephone and physician on board.
The seven-night itinerary travels clockwise around Cuba, departing beautiful Jamaica!
VARADERO GOLF CLUB * * * WATCH THE VIDEO!!! — SEE THIS CHALLENGING COURSE!
This holiday season, golfers and gift-givers alike can enjoy free personalization on Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls, the best performing, most trusted golf balls in the game.
From now until Dec. 31, personalization charges will be waived on all custom orders of Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls, the best fit for players of all skill levels seeking to shoot lower scores, as well as Titleist NXT Tour, NXT Tour S, Velocity and DT Solo models.
The #1 ball in golf is also the #1 gift in golf, especially when it comes with a personal touch.
Personalization includes up to three lines of block text (17 characters per line) imprinted on each golf ball in black, blue, green, red or pink ink. Popular choices include names, nicknames, initials and special messages, as well as social media usernames (i.e., @TitleistonTour) and hashtags (i.e., #TeamTitleist).
Free personalization is also available on custom orders of Pro V1 and Pro V1x with double-digit play numbers (00 and 11-99). The combination of a single- or double-digit play number with personalization is often used to commemorate a holiday, birthday, anniversary or other significant date or event. Other popular double-digit choices include lucky or favorite numbers and athlete jersey numbers.
The minimum order for free personalization is one dozen. Orders placed by Dec. 10 (Dec. 3 for double-digit play numbers) are guaranteed to arrive by Dec. 24.
Orders can be placed by visiting any authorized Titleist golf shop. For custom individual and double-digit play numbers, an additional charge may apply.
Those were the words from President Barack Obama, as he delivered the introductory speech for Dr. Charlie Sifford. Moments later he graciously placed the Presidential Medal of Freedom around the neck of this legend and shook his hand. The ceremony took place at the White House on Monday afternoon, November 24, 2014.
Photo left: Michael Cooper, Ph.D. shares a moment with Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Charlie Sifford.
Immediately following the ceremony I attended an “after party” down the street from the White House on Capitol Hill. The after party was hosted by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), the lone historically black college/university sanctioned with the professional golf management (PGM) curriculum. Approximately 150 people participated, and there were loud cheers and applause when the Sifford family arrived.
A ROOM FILLED WITH CELEBRATION
Dr. Juliette Bell, President of UMES, welcomed all to the festive occasion. The Honorable James E. Clyburn spoke next, and explained his passion and commitment to advocating for Dr. Sifford at the highest level. I have no doubt that the occasion would not have happened without his leadership.
It was also apparent that the award would not have happened without the help of the PGA of America. Wendell Haskins, Senior Director of Diversity for the PGA contributed mightily, as did Earnie Ellison, Renee Powell, and Susan Wasser with the USGA. All were in attendance. Other notables included Scott Walker with the Golf Channel, legendary black golfer James Black, Rose Harper, Debert Cook, Kennie Sims, and Anthony Stepney, both PGA members.
UMES took the opportunity to showcase and introduce a collection of bright, young talented students currently enrolled in their PGM program. We learned that approximately 20 schools carry the PGM program, and UMES has more minority students participating than all the other schools combined. Led by Kimberly Dumpson, with help from Stepney, the school and program should be a major contributor to the golf industry going forward.
Let me get back to Charlie Sifford. I grew up in Chicago, IL. Southside! I was fortunate to get exposed to golf by my father. At that time, black golfers on the southside of Chicago either played Jackson Park GC or Pipe O’ Peace. I played both, but Pipe O’ Peace GC was home. Bobby Milton was the head pro. Mr. Milton was a former Harlem Globetrotter, and he had an incredible network of friends, dignitaries, and celebrities.
Bobby Milton had a habit of showing me off to others. For example, he once arranged a nine-hole match with me, him, Althea Gibson and Billy Eckstine. Another time, a nine-hole exhibition with me and Lee Elder. Years later, as I grew older, I realized it was out of pride. At that time, my fundamentals were solid, and I could score in the mid 70’s on a regular basis. I was a good student in school, too, so in my community, I represented hope for the future.
Our golf course was also known throughout America, and most black golfers would gravitate to Pipe O’ Peace whenever they traveled through Chicago. One could always find a game there, a friendly wager, or simply enjoy the camaraderie and entertainment that followed black golf in that era. It was there that I first met Charlie Sifford.
I probably was around 15 years old and serious about my golf game. Dad exposed me to the best teachers we could find. Cliff Brown, a former PGA Tour player, was my mentor and main instructor. Our golf course did not have a driving range, but we had an area alongside hole number 14 that we used to shag balls. One afternoon as I hit balls I turned to see Bobby Milton and Charlie Sifford approaching. I knew Mr. Sifford from television. I also had heard his life story hundreds of times from Cliff and other adults.
We didn’t have Golf Channel back then, but golf was still televised on most weekends. I admired golf champions like Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, etc, but my real heroes were Cliff, Pete Brown, the Thorpe brothers, James Black, and a host of others who came through Pipe O’ Peace each summer. In short, my heroes and role models were the golfers of color who I had close, personal relationships with. Charlie Sifford was in a class by himself, though. His place was higher on a throne than anyone. His legend seemed bigger than life, to me, and I’d never met him…until that day.
I still recall the feeling of anxiety and sudden lump in my throat as they approached. Bobby said: “this is the young man I’ve been telling you about.” Charlie simply nodded in a way that suggested I keep hitting balls. I hit the first shot and got absolutely no response. Hit ball number two and got a grunt. No words, just a grunt. After ball number three Mr. Sifford nodded again, and said: “Dang junior, looks like you know what you’re doing. Keep it up.” With that, he reached over, shook my hand, and he and Bobby Milton began to walk away. I was in awe! The late Maya Angelou once said: “They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” Well, Charlie Sifford made me feel like a champion that day, and I’ll never forget it!
While the years have passed, my admiration for Charlie Sifford has only gotten stronger. I co-hosted a book signing featuring him in 1992, when he first released his autobiography, Just Let Me Play. I traveled to St. Augustine, FL in 2004 when he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Wouldn’t have missed that for anything! In 2010, I had the privilege to speak in Charlotte, NC, at the grand opening of Charlie Sifford Golf Course. And now, on Monday, November 24, 2014, I was honored to see his smiling face after being presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Charlie Sifford continues to be my hero. He has touched my life for over 40 years, and his legend lives forever in American history.
Send Michael a Comment!
ABOUT MICHAEL COOPER, PH.D.
Dr. Michael W. Cooper is the Campus Director for Springfield College-Tampa Bay campus. He is also the former Director of Diversity for the World Golf Foundation and Southeast Regional Director for The First Tee. Contact him at [email protected].
In the first round on Wednesday, Cheyenne Woods opened strongly with a 4-under-par 68 in the first round of the LPGA’s final stage of Q-School in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Having made a name for herself on the golf circuit, Cheyenne is also widely known for her famous uncle, Tiger Woods. Both have the same infectious smile and delight fans worldwide with their appeal. Cheyenne put a jump on things for the LPGA’s final stage by posting a great score, now tied for fifth at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, two shots behind Casey Grice, a University of North Carolina graduate who played the Symetra Tour as a rookie this past year.
The 24-year old captured her first professional title earlier this year by winning the the Australian Ladies Masters on the Ladies European Tour. Cheyenne has also played the Symetra Tour this season, highly visible, making her third attempt to get through LPGA Q-School.
Cheyenne is seeking success and hopes to be among the top 20 after Sunday’s conclusion of play, where these players gain full LPGA status for the 2015 playing year. next year. Those 25 not making the cut will earn conditional status.
Cheyenne has an impressive background and is as beautiful as she is skilled in golf. She started playing golf at five years old in her grandfather’s garage, where Tiger also started playing. She has won more than 30 amateur tournaments and while attending Wake Forest, twice won All-American honors, finished with the lowest scoring average in school history, and won the 2011 ACC Championship. She turned professional in 2012 after graduating. Born in Phoenix, Arizona she is a daughter of Susan Woods and Earl Dennison Woods Jr., who is golfer Tiger Woods‘ half-brother, making Cheyenne Tiger’s niece. Her paternal grandfather, Earl Woods (Tiger’s father), was her first coach.
Left-to-Right: Joe Canty, Tina Cervasio, Duke Castiglione and Chris Canty
The Chris Canty Foundation held its Champions Golf Classic on May 5, 2014 at the prestigious Alpine Country Club in Demarest, New Jersey. The fundraiser a great opportunity for golfers of all levels to measure their skills against one of Tri-State areas top ranked courses, rub elbows with top athletes and celebrities from around the country, while supporting a great cause. Photo Above, L-R: Debert Cook, publisher, African American Golfer’s Digest shared a cart ride with Duke Castiglione, sports anchor, Fox 5 and My 9 New York. “This is a wonderful tournament that benefits an even more wonderful cause,” said Cook who participated in the 18 hole fundraiser outing. The outing included an exciting pre-tournament party, silent auction and on-course games. All proceeds benefit programs and initiatives supported and developed by the Chris Canty Foundation that expose youth grades K-12 to educational programs, health/fitness activities, and community service projects. 
Photo Left: Chris Canty (center) with members of his foursome. 
For those who wish to be in the mix and enjoy great networking, the 2015 Champions Golf Classic will be held on May 18 at Alpine Country Club in Demarest, New Jersey from 9am – 6pm.
Photo left: Chris Canty tees up for an exciting day at his charity golf tournament.
Tiger Woods is sitting pretty today as the world’s largest manufacturer of two-wheelers, Hero MotorCorp, , announced a global sponsorship with him on Tuesday. The Indian motorcycle and scooter maker is little known in the U.S., but it plans to use Woods to bolster its expansion outside of its base in India. There, it generates 98% of its sales.
The good news for Woods, comes just two days ahead of his return to competitive golf, after four months off. Woods, who celebrates his 39 birthday on December 30, will take to Isleworth Golf & Country Club to tee it up on Thursday at the annual tournament that he hosts, the Hero World Challenge. The Challenge benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation. Hero MotorCorp also signed on (in September) to be a sponsor of the event which features 18 of the best golfers in the world, including Zach Johnson, Bubba Watson, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler.
MotorCorp is one of the newest in Woods’ sponsor portfolio as he returns to the course. After four months off, recovering from back surgery, he missed the cut at the PGA Championship in August—his fourth tournament back after back surgery in March. The four events included two missed cuts and a withdrawal. It was a disappointing year for Woods who finished 201st on the money list with $108,275 and saw his world ranking plummet to No. 24 after starting 2014 ranked first. The 14-time major winner also yanked his name from consideration for a captain’s pick for the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup team.
The new Hero MotorCorp deal is the most lucrative new sponsorship to date, since his 2009 infidelity scandal. It runs four years and could bring incentives for others to follow. Since his 2009 infidelity scandal, Woods lost personally and professionally as things crumbled around him including his marriage and rich endorsements with Accenture , AT&T T, PepsiCo, Gillette , Tag Heuer and Electronic Arts.
Press reports from India put the value of the Hero deal at roughly $8 million a year. Hero CEO Pawan Munjal wouldn’t comment on financial terms, but when asked about the rich price tag, Munjal quipped: “It is Tiger Woods after all.”
Woods ranked sixth in June in Forbes’ annual look at the world’s highest-paid athletes with earnings of $61.2 million. His Nike sponsorship remains one of the biggest in sports with the $28.8 billion-in-sales sportswear giant building a $789 million golf division on the back of Woods.
Global travel may have helped to pave the way for The Woods foundation for the Hero MotorCorp partnership, because, it was solidified in February when Woods played an exhibition in India hosted by Munjal and also featured Hero-sponsored golfer Shiv Kapur, who is one of India’s most high-profile golfers. Munjal says he was considering a handful of celebrities to help with the global expansion of Hero, but quickly settled on Woods. “I thought he was the best fit for our company. He is one of the biggest global celebrities and cuts across all segments,” said Munjal by phone. “We need to very quickly make the brand recognizable and popular globally. I am very confident that with Tiger, we will be able to do that.”
Munjal has big international plans for Hero. The company will enter the European market in 2015, followed by the U.S. and Brazil in 2016. The latter will coincide with the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, which Woods has expressed interest in participating. Hero projects to be in 50 countries by 2020 with sales volume of 12 million units, up from current totals of 21 countries and six million units. Munjal expects Woods to play a major role in the global expansion through promoting the brand and advertising across print, TV, digital and social. Munjal says that sales outside of India should reach 10% of the company within 3-4 years.
Hero reported net income of $348 million on $4.2 billion in sales for its latest fiscal year. Analysts expect sales to increase 14% for the latest fiscal year ending in March.