Tag Archives: golf

Golo Dolo Golf Debut by Dolores White

Posted on by
1

Well, the US Women’s Open qualifier didn’t exactly go as planned. I still love my new Cobra irons, but I don’t quite have the ideal feel with them yet. Judging my distance was tough. The good news is that I have a few weeks to get comfortable with my new clubs and to focus hard on my game before my pro debut.

28824_127039840650449_126307794056987_223978_1552367_n

My first event is the Duramed Futures Tour in Hammond, Indiana. I will be traveling with a gentleman that has supported me over the years and is familiar with the Futures Tour. I am very lucky to have someone to show me the ropes. Until then I will be working hard with my swing instructor in Florida and devoting a lot of my time into my short game.

My family and I are also focusing on fund raising for travel expenses and entry fees. We started by creating a fan page on Facebook to keep people updated on my success and my golf goals. We are currently planning a wine tasting meet-and-greet with people that have supported me in the past and those that may be interested in supporting me in the future. The event is to take place next week in Florida.

Become a fan of Golo Dolo Golf!

Dolores White, a recent Wake Forest University Women’s Golf Team graduate, hits the road for a summer filled with golf tournaments. But this year it will be different. She is now a professional. Dolores is keeping us posted on the ins and outs of being a young professional golfer.

Summer Reading List

Posted on by
Reply

Summer is near, especially for all you college students out there. Soon enough it will be the perfect time of the year to kick back, lay at the beach and catch up with friends. While enjoying the rays, also be sure to enjoy a good read. Here are a few books we recommend for your summer reading list…some will even help better your golf game even as you soak up the sun:

Pretty girl at beachBooks for Golfers:

Every Shot Must Have a Purpose: How GOLF54 Can Make You a Better Player
by Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson with Ron Sirak

The Game Before the Game: The Perfect 30-Minute Practice
by Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson with Ron Sirak

Golf is Not a Game of Perfect
by Bob Rotella with Bob Cullen

Think Like a Champion
by Donald J. Trump

Book for parents of golfers:

Parenting Your Superstar:
How to Help Your Child Balance Achievement and Happiness
by Bob Rotella and Linda K. Bunker

Books for fun:

Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Open: An Autobiography
by Andre Agassi

Water for Elephants
by Sara Gruen

To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee

So what’s on your summer reading list?

Golf Stretches You Should Know About!

Posted on by
Reply

Before you strike a golf ball, it is important to remember to stretch! Why? Well, consider this:

  • - Before you even begin swinging, many of your muscles are under a lot of stress (think of the position of your body at address).
  • - Also consider you are about to swing a club at  80+ mph, while maintaining this seemingly awkward position.
  • - Plus, stretching decreases your chance of injury and helps promote a more fluid golf swing.

I love this quick video from EliteStretching: Stretches for Women Golfers.  Take a look and give these easy stretches a try the next time you step up to the tee box.

Do you have any other stretches you do before or after a round of golf?  Let our readers know!

Putting Drill: Criss-Cross

Posted on by
Reply

I learned this drill from the Wake Forest University golf team, it’s one of my favs:

Criss-Cross Putting Drill

What you need: 3 balls, 6 holes

1.  Divide the 6 holes into two groups of three (three on one side of the putting green, three on the other side of the green).

2.  Begin with all three balls at one hole and putt one ball to each of the three holes on the opposite side of the green.

3.  After you putt each ball out, gather the three balls at one of the holes on that side of the green and putt each one back to each hole on the other side (so one ball goes to each of the three holes across the green, hope this makes sense!)

4.  Continue to putt each of the three balls from one side of the green to the other so that you begin from each of the 6 holes once (if you two putt every ball you should have 36 putts).

5.  Set goals: try and two putt every putt… after that try to get less than 34 putts (two one putts), and then 33 putts, 32 putts… etc….

If there aren’t six holes on the putting green, stick a tee in the ground and putt to that. 

Let me know what you think!

Getting the EDGE for Girls Golf Clothes

Posted on by
4
Jan Fye, regional director of the Small Business Development Center in South Bend, and Cindy Ormson, Wear to Win co-founder, at the award ceremony.

Jan Fye, regional director of the Small Business Development Center in South Bend, Senator Joe Zakas, and Cindy Ormson, Wear to Win co-founder, at the award ceremony.

We are so excited to announce that we received the Economic Development and Growth through Entrepreneurship (EDGE) Award—for making fun, flattering golf skorts and more. We are one of 10 emerging businesses across the state to be recognized by the Indiana Small Business Development Center. How awesome is that?

For a long time we dreamed of making fashionable junior golf clothing for girls. Our dream finally came to fruition and since we’ve started Wear to Win, we have been amazed by the awards and recognition that we have received…and quite grateful for it. Going back to our previous post on setting goals, all of this has been possible thanks to being focused, organized, and the encouragement and council of people around us. And of course, thanks to your inspiration. Keep swinging!

How to Begin Playing Golf

Posted on by
9

Back to the beginning….

Junior golfer in Wear to Win skort

When I was 11 years old, my dad thought it would be a good idea that my younger sister and I learn to play golf. I had grown up dancing, playing tennis and soccer, and did not really consider trying to play golf. One summer afternoon, my dad took us to the range. I had three Ping irons and a 7-wood in a purple bag. I immediately began swinging away, topping and wiffing every ball–super frustrating.

My dad came over and gave me a few pointers–how to stand, how to grip the club and the general motion to swing the club. He also made me tee up all of the balls, rather than hitting them off the ground. Towards the end of the bucket, I began getting some in the air.

After a couple more outings to the driving range, I was able to hit my 7 wood in the air to the 100 yard marker.  My frustration turned into determination. That same summer my dad enrolled me in a 9-hole golf match. I was so nervous. I had never played an entire 9 holes, while walking and carrying my own bag. I shot a 99 for that round–not for 18 holes, but a 99 for 9 holes…very embarrassing. I wanted to go back to focusing on tennis, soccer and dance. My parents both convinced me to stick with golf for the rest of the summer. By going out a couple evenings to the driving range, I continued to improve. I began breaking 70, then 60 and then consistently shot in the 50s. I was hooked!

That summer marked the beginning of a game that has had a huge impact on my life. From traveling to courses all over the country, meeting friends, networking and challenging myself, the game of golf has lead to numerous opportunities. Whether playing just for fun with friends or competing in local or national tournaments, golf will teach you invaluable lessons that you will use for the rest of your life.

How to start:

  1. Check out local golf courses, some of them have summer leagues for junior golfers. This is a great place to start. You will make friends with other junior golfers in your area.
  2. Go online to see if your county has a junior county golf tour. I began competing in the St. Joseph County Golf Tour in Indiana. These tournaments are fun because they allow you to play at different courses, sometimes even the private golf courses in your area.
  3. Go to your local course and take some lessons. Whether they are private or small clinics, it is important to understand the basics of golf.
  4. Practice, practice, practice. Golf is a game of creativity. Golf is unique because you get firsthand feedback from what the ball does. By going out and experimenting with a different stance, a different grip and different clubs, you will learn what works and what does not.

So this was my beginning. What about you? How did you start?

2010: A Year of Possibility

Posted on by
Reply

ReflectGolferCropAlas, it is time to say goodbye to 2009 and look ahead to 2010. What will the year hold? Have you set any resolutions? With a little reflection, focus and goal setting, the year ahead could be a time of vast improvement for your golf game and life in general. Follow these few steps to start your year right and you might just surprise yourself.

Reflect. Ask yourself what worked for you in 2009 and what didn’t. Was your short game lacking? Need a bit more umph on your drives? Feel confident about your ability to read the greens?

Focus. Take a good look at what changes you want to make and be specific. Don’t just aim to be a better golfer. Focus on the things that can help you achieve that (longer drives, better putting, etc.) and set a date for when you will accomplish it.

Write it down. Put your goal in writing, whether in a journal, on your iPhone or even a mirror so you can be constantly reminded of what you intend to do.

Tell someone. Accountability will help keep you focused, on the right path and motivated come March. Tell your friends, golf coach, teammates and/or parents, and ask them to encourage you to reach your goal.

Get to work. You have thought about it and told people, but now it’s time to actually get to work. Practice hard. If you feel yourself losing steam at any point (which is bound to happen), get creative and explore new ways to get there. For instance want to add distance to your drives but tired of hitting endless balls at the range? Then hit the gym for some strength training for a change of scenery.

Enjoy the journey. Don’t wait for the final result to celebrate your progress. If you hope to clear a sand trap after the first try and not the seventh, have a mini-celebration when it happens on just five tries.

Be proud. And when you finally get there, don’t hold back. Be proud of the work you’ve done and the time you’ve spent getting there. Then it’s time to start all over again with some reflection, focus and an entirely new goal to take you to yet another level of accomplishment.

For even more helpful tips, check out this article from Real Simple. In the meantime, tell us your thoughts on New Year’s resolutions. What golf/life goals do you have for 2010?

Golfers are Athletes!

Posted on by
2

Golf tournaments have become super competitive. To join the winner’s circle you now have to really consider all aspects of the game. Your endurance and strength can make a difference between finishing in the top 20 or the top 5. Remember the (annual) rain delays at the Optimist International at PGA National? So often, we had to play 28+ holes in a day to make up for lost time. So how do you stay on top in a tournament like that when you are tired and dragging after 18 holes?

AJGA in Mexico

AJGA in Mexico

In addition to doing short game drills and honing the swing, fitness has become a high priority for golfers. I first saw this focus on training at the Genuity PGA Championship tournament at Doral Golf Club in Miami. As a young junior, I got to watch the professionals during the practice days before the tournament. After their rounds, the gym at the Doral was packed with players. I remember watching with interest as Vijay Singh dripped with sweat, while throwing a medicine ball with his caddie outside the pro-shop.

Top LPGA players, and those striving to make it, take their fitness training in the weight room very seriously. In a USA Today feature of the 10 toughest athletes, Annika Sorenstam was ranked #7 (she can do 15 pull ups!).  Look at the role fitness plays in elite golf. Every collegiate team I know of has a year-round strength coach. Teams are becoming stronger, gaining endurance and developing more stamina for the rounds. We golfers are athletes! To those who beg to differ, try carrying a 25+ pound bag for 18, 27 or 36 holes!

So if you are a budding golfer or an experienced one, try a focus on fitness to improve your game. We will keep you posted on our favorite golf workout routines.  Are you already a golfer athlete? What exercises have helped improve your game?

Season’s Greetings

Posted on by
2

WTWcard‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the course
Not a creature was stirring, not even remorse

For the drive that went left or the putt that went right
Or the chip that didn’t have quite enough might.

For the clubs were all cleaned and tucked in their bags
And the wind whipped the greens and fluttered the flags.

With the golfers all nestled in bed without care,
For the tournaments ahead and what they would wear,

Beneath the tree lay, all wrapped up in a bow,
The perfect golfwear that has pretty flow.

With moisture-wicking fabric and beautiful style,
This Wear to Win skort will bring quite a smile

To the face of the golfer who will be ready to swing
When the snow has all melted and it’s once again spring.