Learning golf from Palm Coast ladies

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

Golf is like a part of our family — for each of us, a family of strength.

When we go off to play a round at Pine, Grand Reserve, Cypress, Palm Harbor or wherever, we do so with friends, people we like, four or five hours on beautifully manicured surfaces. And we want to do it again this week and every week we can.

That is family, just like those we left at home for a few hours.

Take Louise Wolf and Rick McArdle, for instance. They are coach and assistant coach of golf for girls, respectively, at Mantanzas High School. Each season, they struggle to get youngsters to play this amazing game — and that is not easy — but team members are their family, and that is as precious as one gets outside the home.

Most female golf teams around the country are jammed, but for some strange reason, not in Palm Coast.

I’ll always remember a top-ranked teaching pro telling me: “If you really want to improve your game, watch the ladies swing.”

I did, at Ladies Professional Golf Association tournaments and, by golly, he was right. If I had followed that dictum year after year, I would be playing the game better than I am now.

Go watch the swings of lady golfers such as Joane DeMarco, Joyce Chmel, Alice Manthey, Mavis Moen, Karen Jenkins, Zita Corum, Sonya Sap or Carolyn McLaughlin.

Follow a game with Karen Joyce, Ginny Nicewonger or Barbara Bergquist, and you’ll learn something.

I did it some years ago with Deb Crowley and Marcia Hayton on the course, and I’m still staggered at the beauty of their swings.

A few weeks ago, Diana Mariano stunned everyone who was watching distances of her tee drives. She does it on every swing.

Take a look at Shay Hall, Terry Gibson, Glenna Pruitt, Joan Callahan, Kay Borer Ryan, Sue Gronwoldt or Gerry Bell. These gals can play.

So can Rita Miller, Sandy Pearson, Janice Peterson, Mimi Lenio and Sara Waln. Each week reviewing scores, I’m amazed at the numbers of birdies and chip-ins they produce. Heck, I haven’t enjoyed a chip-in for almost three years.

But the bottom line is like the top-ranked pro said.

Read more about the Grand Club personnel shakeup and Palm Coast golf online by clicking on “Blogs” at www.Palm CoastObserver.com.