Envision a pristine sunset filled with cotton candy pinks, watermelon reds & azure blues, a bag piper on a small hill over looking the misty green of Spanish Bay Golf Course.  The ocean is the backdrop for the entire week.  In your hand you hold a glass of Napa Valley’s finest wine, every sip reminds you of where you are…heaven.

This my friends, is the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am…  It is a first class food & wine event meets the FBR Open meets a Celebrity Golf Shoot out.

This is not an ordinary Pro Am, it is the Ultimate Celebrity Pro Am.  That being said
you would never believe who on the celeb roster is actually a good player.  Kenny G is a scratch golfer, George Lopez an 11 (and, incidentally, very dear friends with Lee Trevino) Kevin Costner is a 10, Ray Romano a 16.  Even Kelly Slater, Legendary Pro surfer tee’s it up with a 6.2 handicap, not too shabby!  I had the pleasure of meeting Luke Wilson (an 11.4 who I hear hooks everything) when I sat next to him at dinner in the always swingin’ “Tap Room” at The Lodge.  As I sat there he received a gift from a random fan of 5 different irons for his competition starting the next day while 2 hotties plopped down next to him. The girls, not minding their manners, totally disregarded my belongings on the seat.  Josh Duhamel (a sweet 16 handicap) better known as Fergie’s new fiancée, also sat next to me. Trust me he is even better looking in real life, even while slurping dirty martinis and mentally preparing for the days ahead.  When I said to him “my moneys on you Josh” he said “You’d have better luck lighting your money on fire”.  Then he proceeded to imitate eating his dinner with his putter clenched in his hands…kinda awkward but cute because he’s handsome. 

Not only does this tourney invite the crème de la crème of Lala Land but historically terrible weather is its guest.  Gloomy, grey skies tend to coat the peninsula specifically for this event, or snow as it did in 1962.  You would think you were in Ireland! “Where else can you have the greatest golfers play the greatest courses in the worst conditions?” Crosby used to say joyfully.   But not in 2008, Mother Nature decided to look her best.  I was fortunate to have hospitality overlooking the 18th green, one of the best views in golf.  In plain sight, dolphins frolicking, sea otter’s boasting their easy & playful way of life. The waves were ferocious; crashing like Mac trucks against the sea wall of the 18th fairway.  Ooohh’s, aahh’s & Ohhh’s were constantly chanted as if we were smurfs.  At one point during the tourney, Kelly Slater decided to throw on his wet suit, grab his board and proceed post round, right off the 18th green to take advantage of the swells.  It was quite a site to watch one of the world’s best surfers strut his stuff while Vijay Singh is making a putt. 
 
As all this was in motion, if it didn’t get any better, some of the worlds best Pros (no Tiger was not present, from what I hear the tourney is a little to slow & rambunctious for him) & Amateurs grace the stage at Pebble Beach, Poppy Hills & Spyglass.  CEO’s, A-B list Celebs & Pros come together to play for a 6 million dollar purse, body surf the crowd like Kevin James & raise money for the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. The Foundation raised $6.13 million dollars from the 2007 Pro Am. The Monterey Peninsula Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations that benefit the community in the areas of Youth, Education, Health & Human Services, Arts & Culture, and Community & Environment. The Foundation’s main source of funds is the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am tournament.

Amongst all the glitz and glamour there is still serious golf being played. The AT&T is an official PGA Tour stroke play event.  Phil Mickelson won in 2007 at 20 under par. “This tournament and this golf course mean a lot to me because it’s a place where I have family memories,” said Mickelson, whose grandfather once caddied at Pebble Beach.  “I love coming back to this place.”   This year the tournament was won by Steve Lowery at 10 under par and was the 47 year old’s 3rd win since he turned Pro in 1983.  Lowery’s clutch birdie on the first playoff hole clinched the victory over Vijay Singh.

In order to truly appreciate the tourney it is important to understand its history.  It began as “The Crosby Clambake” a high profile soriee/tournament orchestrated by Bing Crosby in 1937.  It was originally played from 1937-1942 at Rancho Santa Fe Country Club in Rancho Santa Fe, CA near San Diego where Crosby was also a member. Bing Crosby conceived his tournament as an affable little pro-am for his fellow members at Lakeside Golf Club and any other touring pros who could use the dough. He chipped in (no pun intended) $3,000 of his own money for the purse.  Bing was a quadruple threat. Not only is he a symbol of consummate entertainment but also a 2 handicap who competed in both the British and U.S. Amateur championships & was a five-time club champion at Lakeside Golf Club in Hollywood, CA.  The irony of it all; Bing Crosby died of a heart attack while playing golf in Madrid, Spain in 1977.  “If I were asked what single thing has given me the most gratification in my long and sometimes pedestrian career, I think I would have to say it is this tournament.”  Bing Crosby confessed before his death.   The tournament name was changed in 1985 & in 1986 AT&T became the title sponsor. Nathaniel Crosby Bing’s son, a 1981 U.S. Amateur champion still plays in the tournament today.   

Pebble Beach Golf Links is the site of the 2010 U.S. Open Championship.  It won’t be the first U.S. Open this course has hosted though. It was there in 72, 82, 92, 2000 & soon 2010.  PB is also slated to host a Women’s Open, date undetermined.           
As my grandmother says, “You can plan a pretty picnic but you can’t predict the weather” so I can’t guarantee you will have the conditions I describe above.  But I can guarantee a great Championship packed with striking views & world class golf.  It is rare that anyone attends a U.S. Open at a 5 Star Resort like Pebble Beach.  So if you don’t have plans June 14 – 20, 2010 put that one on the calendar.  Tickets go on sale to the General Public June 22, 2009 until 5 PM EDT on Aug. 1, 2009.

So to answer the question above, does heaven have a golf course?  Since heaven is on earth, the answer is YES & Pebble Beach sure delivers on that. One of best things about being a golf spectator or player, is it allows you to travel to some of the most beautiful places that you otherwise would not go to & meet people you would otherwise never meet.  Bing Crosby realized that fact, thus I would like to propose a toast to the legendary Bing Crosby, whose memory reminds us that it is possible to play competitive golf & have a blast at the same time.  CHEERS!

–

Special Thanks:  The MR Team & Spies, Robert Gilham who has discovered his new calling; photography, Johnny G, you make a fabulous tour guide but an even better nutella sandwich…Merci.

Photo Credit: Robert Gilham

Golf widow - A woman whose husband leaves her for long periods of time to play golf.

Let me begin by saying there are worse things for a person to have an affinity for i.e. drugs, gambling, late night reveling, Star Trek or Barry Manilow.

I recently got married; a wonderful man, great family, a smile that lights up my life, etc.  But from the start there was always one thing that could occupy his time more than I could…golf.  Upon my announcement to my mother that we were engaged the first words out of her mouth besides, “Congratulations, mazel tov!” were, “You know you’ll become a Golf Widow.” Golf Widow? I had never really heard that term before much less been called one.

So I began to think. Am I a golf widow? What does that mean? Does that still exist today?  In an age where women are CEO’s, work weekends, tend to a family, and mow the lawn?

I do not play golf, but I have worked in golf since college.  My father and my uncle are both proshop owners.  I was the event coordinator at Winged Foot Golf Club for the 2006 U.S. Open Championship.  Now I am in Sports Marketing specializing in Golf for American Express. So, needless to say, I understand the game. But my spare time is not spent on the fairway or in the rough.  I am fortunate in that through my work I have broken bread with Jackie Burke, walked with Tiger Woods side-by side at Oakmont Country Club during a practice round, and worked with Jim Nantz, Gary Player, and Jack Nicklaus.  My husband is a U.S. Amateur contestant himself. Golf surrounds me, it has brought me much joy, and as a matter of fact, it’s how I met my husband.  So I chuckle to myself at the irony.  How could I possibly be a golf widow? I am surrounded by golf every day! “En-golfed”, if you will.

Am I a golf widow because I don’t play golf like my husband does?  My husband plays about 3-4 times a week in season (not counting days where he plays 36 holes), and not just in New York but in other parts of the world, in Florida, North Carolina, Colorado, and Korea. And with this type of schedule our “family time” is frequently interrupted by his desire to play.

Now, if I was a wife in the 1940’s or 50’s maybe I would be more tolerant of this behavior. In those days it was simply the norm for Dad to disappear at 8 AM and not be seen back at the house until after dark. This was typical especially within families that belonged to golf clubs. My grandfather, an accomplished orthodontist, had very little time to play on weekdays, but Saturday was his day to tee it up with friends. And Sunday became “Family Day”. There is an old joke that paints a great picture of that era:

A husband and wife wake up one early morning.  She is boiling tea, and he is reading the Saturday paper.  She coyly asks, “Are you playing today?”
He looks over at her with a sinister, devilish smile and says, “Golf Course or Intercourse?”
She replies, “I’ll go get your sweater”.

But I guess I don’t feel like a golf widow because I’m so busy that I just don’t have time to feel like a victim. In this day and age, both spouses work not only weekdays but on sometimes weekends as well. And their kids have so many more organized activities than ever before. It’s dizzying: soccer, lacrosse, swimming, dance, horse back riding, balloon making.  When Dad wants to play, he now plays early and is back at the house by 11am so he can go to the little league soccer game.

But now guess what?  Mom is playing golf too. She wants to work on her game just as hard as Dad.  Now, more than ever, women not only enjoy playing golf in their spare time but use it to do business as well.  But don’t get me wrong, golf has not replaced our inner need to shop and do the occasional 4 hour brunch with the girls (which can be longer that any 18 hole round of golf I assure you and sometimes more expensive).

Now, I think it is truly a great thing to have a passion for something.  Golf is great because it is man versus himself.  It is very personal, and very humbling. It is a game of practice and patience. The game of golf is very synonymous to life. It is a quiet game, and it’s not about muscle strength, so you don’t see players getting tested for steroid use. It’s a game where I can go out with my grandfather watch him shoot his age of 78 while he can watch me and my swing provide the comic relief on the course.

So the question then becomes how do you balance your love for sport with your family?  How do you broach the subject of feeling like a golf widow or widower and schedule more time for each other? I decided to bring this up with my husband.

So one fine day we were walking in Central Park. I started with a joke, the one above about the husband and the wife reading the paper.  He laughed and gave me a high five. All was going according to plan. As we were walking he stopped dead in his tracks to engage in the infamous “imaginary swing”. You know the one, where a person mentally selects his club from his bag, gets into position, grips and rips at the imaginary ball.  “Get in the hole!” I screamed, maybe even a little too loud as he took the shot.  My husband looked at me like I was nuts.  Okay, so I got a little excited.  It was time to breach the subject.  “Honey, do I look like a, I mean… am I a golf widow?” He laughed and sincerely proclaimed, “No honey, you’re my wife and I love you. I do play a lot… but I guess I can play earlier so I can come home to you by 1pm. Sound good?”  Wow, that wasn’t hard, and that sure was a good answer!

Not spending what you feel is not enough time with your loved one is only a problem if you do not discuss it.  If it is repressed then it will manifest itself in some other form like in your driving or while ordering fast food.  Being a golf widow is a state of mind, a perception.  Maybe I am a golf widow, but so what?  What if I like it?  I like golf because he likes it… and if it makes him happy, it can’t be that bad!  All you can do is discuss the matter and come to a reasonable resolution.

If you feel your loved one pays more attention to his/her putter than you, here are ways you can broach the subject of golf time vs. family time:

• Do not use “You” when talking about your feelings. Use “I”.
• Mood is everything - Do it while in a serene, pristine setting like a vineyard in Tuscany (hey, you can hope), a park, or a nice dinner at home.
• Do not do it in the middle of the Super Bowl, The Masters, or The U.S. Open. Or when any Bill Murray movie is on.
• Make the suggestion that they play earlier - It would probably be easier to get a tee time, and the course may not be as crowded. Then after they play, you can schedule a fun family activity.
• Set up a lesson with your loved one. Pick up a club and take a swing yourself. You never know, you might end up being a Club Champion one day!