Women

I Am Not a Golfer

/ Kirsten Flory / Leave a comment

Sneak peek from Golfing In Heels…

On my quest to discover why I and others are not golfers, I have been amused by the responses I have received.  Most women respond to me with a deer in the headlights look, and stammer out their answer with something like “oh, I don’t do that sort of thing.”  When I follow this up with “what sort of thing?” I get a “you know, that golf sort of thing.”

So what in the world is this “golf sort of thing?”  I’ll tell you it’s not some big secret.  It’s not scary.  It won’t hurt.  It’s not bad for you, and if you give it a try, you may want to come back for more.

Women have the tendency to tell you everything they are not.  They are not handy, athletic, good with power tools, or able to lift large objects.  What I’ve witnessed is that women are stronger than steel, have the endurance of a tri-athlete, and the perseverance to stick it out until it’s done right.  They will kick-ass and then melt softly into the background so others can take the glory.

If you think about the activities you were engaged in growing up, did any of them include golf?  I am probably an anomaly, but even with my early introduction to the game of golf, I still don’t consider myself in the golfer category.  What I want to know is: why aren’t we taking out our daughters / grand-daughters / nieces / little sisters out to the course?  Golf is definitely not a contact sport (well, that is if you don’t hit anyone with your wayward ball) and doesn’t require padding, a helmet or special shoes (for the most part).  I don’t even consider the game to be even all that masculine.  Sure, it’s a sport, and the more athletic you are, the greater your potential is for fine tuning your strokes, distance and more.  There also is nothing in the rule book that recommends an appropriate age to begin, or for that matter, an age to stop

Golf is Not Just a Man’s Game

/ Kirsten Flory / Leave a comment

A sneak peek to Golfing In Heels…

My Dad golfs.  So do my brother, husband, boss, and most of the men I know.  If you ask a guy why they golf, most will answer (other than the obvious: it’s a sport, and I am a guy, so of course I like it) that it’s relaxing, fun and an enjoyable activity to do with friends.  I think men are onto something here.  How many women do you know participate regularly in activities that are relaxing, fun and enjoyable to do with friends?  None come to the top of my mind.

What activity do you know of that takes the better part of a day, is encouraged by your employer, may lead to new opportunities, provides socialization, is conducted in (mostly) beautiful weather, and is exercise?  I don’t think a trip to the mall qualifies, unless you are a professional shopper.  Ladies, we need to take advantage of an activity that our male counterparts have known about for years.

Men have dominated the sports profession since the beginning of time.  If your weekends look anything like mine, then you are notified of the seasons changing not by the weather, but by what sport is playing on television.  From the crowd roaring football games, to the buzzing of race cars zooming around the track, they merge right into each other.  I do know a few ladies who enjoy a good sporting event, but don’t plan their work, travel and leisure schedules around them.

Why Women Should Get Into the Game

We hurry everywhere.  We hurry to get the kids off to school, we hurry to work, and we hurry home to make dinner.  When you do find that unexpected moment of calm, do you know what to do with yourself?  Do you ever plan for some down time?

Wine Women and Wedges

/ Kirsten Flory / 1 Comment

I helped to plan an event last night that combined three wonderful aspects of my life that I love: socializing, philanthropy and work.  To garner support for an upcoming golf tournament (the River City Cosmopolitan Golf Classic – benefiting Health Care Access) we held a wine tasting to get women golfers (beginners thru the more experienced) engaged in playing in this event. 

As we were sipping on our delicious wine at Wyldewood Cellars in downtown Lawrence, KS, I heard so many comments from the ladies that seemed to circle around “I kind of play golf, but I’m too afraid to do it in front of anyone else.”  I shared with them a secret about playing golf (especially for charity) that these women definitely needed to hear.  Where else can you combine supporting a great cause, spending the day outside in gorgeous surroundings, and socializing / networking with friends, colleagues, or clients in a fun and relaxed setting? 

Golf is something we ladies need to embrace.  The guys have figured this one out, and jump at the chance to get out of the office for the day to put in their time on the links.  Not to say that I wouldn’t jump at the chance to get out of the office for the day and put in some serious time at the mall, but golf can be worked into a corporate meeting and community support – something that we all do.

If you are hesitant to pick up a club because of the cost, here’s an even better reason to play.  Charity golf events usually provide a tax deduction as a portion or even all of your entrance fee.  And if you don’t currently own a set of golf clubs, you can pick up a used set online, borrow from a friend (or hubby if he plays) or spend what you did on that last pair of shoes you bought to get a beginner set.

I hope this post gives you a little push to pick up a club sometime, and don’t just let the guys have all the fun.