the Wolverines likely would advance. from corse178's blog
Will the return of golf to the Olympics in Rio bring more attention to womens golf and grow the game among women? As a former LPGA player, I think giving the sport an international platform certainly wont hurt womens golf. Youth Jaylen Samuels Jersey . But the issues I see internally at golf courses are stagnating its growth.Many women struggle to find their place at the golf course -- they feel intimidated because they believe golf is a boys club and wonder where they fit in. This should come as no surprise, because several clubs dont make women feel welcome.Take, for instance, Muirfield Golf Club in Scotland, which voted in May to not allow women to become members. When the R&A ruled it would no longer hold Open Championships there as a result of the vote, Muirfield stated it will hold a second vote on allowing female membership. Still, it wasnt a good look for golf.There are many issues keeping women off the golf course, from intimidation to a lack of tee times.Im reminded of a time during my high school golf days. While practicing on the range, an older man approached me and, without permission, put his hands on me and said, Here, move your hips like this.His unwanted touches made me feel so uncomfortable that each time I went to the range thereon, I would isolate myself from the rest of those working on their games. I already had been playing for 10 years and had my sights on the LPGA. That one incident would not derail me from continuing to play, but it did impact me.Now, imagine a woman on the range who is just starting out and already feels nervous and self-conscious. Imagine her being approached by not one, but two men offering her unsolicited advice and touching her to show her what shes doing wrong.Some of these women dont come back as a result of the embarrassment.Vicki Vanderpool, PGA Junior golf director at Butler Country Club in Pittsburgh, saw this is as a recurring issue and started womens coaching practicing at her club.Its from 5 to 7 p.m. and ladies can just show up anytime and get help, Vanderpool said. Its on our private teaching range, which I feel will help get women out practicing and comfortable on the range. So many men keep giving ladies advice when they are on the range. And the funny thing, Ive never seen a woman go up to a man and give him unsolicited advice on his golf swing.Having this option has proven successful. Vanderpool said she even sees mothers bringing their daughters out now, because they have a safe place to practice.The idea of having designated areas for women is appealing. And if thats not possible, signage at the range reading, No unwanted coaching allowed. Leave that to the professionals could be beneficial. As a feminist, I believe in teaching women to be strong and to use their voices to say no when someone is bothering them. At a golf course or any training facility, though, a woman should not feel forced to do that. This is no different than gyms that have areas for women to protect them from harassment in the gym.A lack of female professionals also can contribute to fewer women playing.A representative from the PGA of America said only 948 of the 23,000 members are female. At the end of 2015, the LPGA teaching and club pros program only had 1,700 members total, some of whom are dual members of the PGA and LPGA.The PGA of America is striving to make its mark in womens golf, though. In 2014, Suzy Whaley was appointed PGA secretary, the first woman elected a PGA officer in the organizations history. Its a small but important step in giving women a voice in the golf world.In 2015, the PGA partnered with the LPGA to run the Womens PGA Championship, the LPGAs second major of the year. Such partnerships bolster a sense of unity between mens and womens golf.Another problem many clubs face is that mens leagues take over courses. At my golf club, womens leagues get one day: Monday mornings. The mens leagues have two days. Most women cannot take off work to play a round of golf on a weekday, unless they are using golf as a way to entertain a client. If courses took the initiative to offer women a 9-hole league in the evenings, they would open themselves up to a new clientele looking to connect with other female golfers.The Executive Womens Golf Association (EWGA) has worked diligently to provide more playing opportunities for working women and to connect women who work and love to play golf. There are 100 chapters nationwide and each month during golf season they host more than 7,500 golf, social and networking activities. The 12,000 members of EWGA receive discounts on lessons and greens fees, and special rates on apparel at various golf clubs. The EWGA said on average, a woman who is just beginning golf through their organization spent roughly $2,700 on equipment and activities, and each EWGA chapter generates $591,900 annually in golf-related spending in its community.I believe all golf courses are trying to figure out where their next customer is coming from, and how they can make an impression, Pam Swenson, CEO of EWGA, said. And we know that women are the gatekeepers in the family, and we [EWGA] have always professed that if courses welcome women, their families will also come.Events19, founded by Donna Hoffman, hosts clinics and 9-hole outings for beginners and experienced players. After the golf excursion, the women attend happy hour and partake in professional development activities, like learning how to close a deal on the golf course with a client.The first thing that attracts women to the game are the people [women, instructors, etc.] and then connecting to the environment around them, whether its the golf course, the facility and its accommodations, Hoffman said. More importantly, time is a commodity for women and I want our events to knock things off their to-do list, like meeting other professional women or fitting in exercise instead of having to go to the gym.Hoffman said many courses are eager to bring her in and see the value of having women at their course. The courses just need a little nudging, but most are open to suggestions on how to cater to women better.Catherine Kim, director of player development at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, said she was brought in to help restructure her clubs womens programs.I do a Get Golf Ready program for women called Divots and Divas, Kim said. Its an hour long session that lasts six weeks and helps women get acquainted with golf. They also get an alcoholic beverage of their choice. They sell out so quickly and we keep wondering where all these women are coming from, but they want to learn. The fact they are socializing with other women while learning a sport, I believe, is a key to the success of my program.It appears the simple thing courses need to do is show they care about women. If golf clubs begin to acknowledge women and address the issues that cause insecurity and reluctance to play, they will garner a new wave of women who will feel respected on the course, and theyll continue to play and pay. Youth Terrell Edmunds Jersey . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Cheap Steelers Jerseys For Sale . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. http://www.wholesalepittsburghsteelersjerseys.com/ . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. The third College Football Playoff rankings had barely been released before Bill Hancock, the CFPs executive director, reiterated that the system is working.We are confident, Hancock said Sunday, that four is the right number.But eight is so much more fun! And it seems that the majority of fans want the playoff to expand! And every playoff in every major American sport has eventually grown bigger!I dont anticipate any discussion about expansion, Hancock said.Hancock is a prince of a guy, but when it comes to college footballs postseason, hes the smiling sheriff of the fun police. Just because the sports decision-makers arent interested in exploring an eight-team playoff doesnt mean we cant drum up one.Why eight teams? Many believe eight is the sweet spot for the college football playoff: more national representation but not too much, and only one more round of competition.What would an eight-team playoff look like this season? The exercise is part reality and part subjectivity.To acknowledge the selection committee members, we will use their top four: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 Washington.Now, the fun part: We pick the next four!They are: No. 5 Penn State, No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 USC and No. 8 Oklahoma. Despite a 39-point loss at Michigan Stadium, Penn State is ahead of the Wolverines because of its overall profile (wins over Ohio State, Wisconsin, Temple and Iowa) and conference championship. USC didnt win its conference or division but has two better wins -- Washington and Colorado -- than anything on Oklahomas résumé. Plus, outside of Alabama, USC is the team no one wants to play.The first four out: Wisconsin, Florida State, Colorado and Western Michigan.Heres how a hypothetical eight-team playoff would look this year.No. 1 Alabama (13-0) vs. No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2) The Sooners want to show theyre not the same team that started 1-2, and coach Bob Stoops always craves chances to take down the SECs best. The game features the nations most dominant defense against a surging Oklahoma offense featuring quarterback Baker Mayfield, running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, and transcendent wide receiver Dede Westbrook. It would take a lot for Oklahoma to win, but the Sooners have the type of offense -- coorddinated by Lincoln Riley -- that tends to give Alabama trouble. Youth Chukwuma Okorafor Jersey. Crimson Tide wide receivers Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart would look to attack a vulnerable OU secondary.No. 2 Clemson (12-1) vs. No. 7 USC (9-3) Who wouldnt want to see this matchup? It has it all: game-changing quarterbacks in Clemsons Deshaun Watson and USCs Sam Darnold, NFL-ready wide receivers in Clemsons Mike Williams and USCs JuJu Smith-Schuster, solid running back play, and elite cornerbacks in USCs?Adoree Jackson?and Clemsons Cordrea Tankersley. If you like speed and highlights, this game will not disappoint. Clemson has been on the big stage much more often than USC in recent years, but the Trojans showed at Washington that they are coming back strong.No. 3 Ohio State (11-1) vs. No. 6 Michigan (10-2) Yes, we get to see The Game again. It wont be quite the same at a neutral site (unless the hypothetical playoff begins on campus, which isnt a bad thing at all), but these teams are so evenly matched that drama is inevitable. Michigan had the right blueprint to beat Ohio State the first time around. If quarterback Wilton Speight?could take better care of the football against an opportunistic Buckeyes defense, the Wolverines likely would advance. Ohio State would once again lean on Malik Hooker, Marshon Lattimore,?Raekwon McMillan?and the defense, as well as veteran signal-caller J.T. Barrett, to beat its archrival for the second time and advance to the semifinals.No. 4 Washington (12-1) vs. No. 5 Penn State (11-2) We debated these two through the night and into Sunday, but in an eight-team playoff, the Huskies and Nittany Lions settle it on the field. Underrated quarterbacks Jake Browning (Washington) and Trace McSorley (Penn State) lead big-play offenses with excellent running backs -- Washingtons Myles Gaskin and Lavon Coleman, and Penn States Saquon Barkley -- and perimeter threats in John Ross III?and DaeSean Hamilton. Washington has the more decorated defense, highlighted by Budda Baker and Sidney Jones in the secondary, but Penn States defense gave Ohio State fits and steadily improved as the season went along. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys From China NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Cheap China Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '
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