Yesterday I played a round of golf at The Links at Spanish Bay — “A True Links Golf Course in Scottish Tradition.” It didn’t matter that I was actually playing golf in Massachusetts. The golf simulator didn’t care where my body was located. My game was on the links course at Pebble Beach. Fantasy Golf! One way to stay in shape for the upcoming golf season. But it got me to thinking.
If I can play a fantasy round of golf at a far away fantasy golf course, why not play it with a fantasy golf foursome?
If you had the chance to pick any woman golfer, past or present, to play a round of golf with you, who would you pick?
There are so many great players! You could even go back as far as Mary Queen of Scots who played the game in the 1500s. I don’t know if she was any good as a golfer, but at least the conversation would be lively, what with all those French and English kings and queens battling for the throne!
But for my fantasy foursome I think I would come a little closer to today, and to reality!
Babe Didrikson Zaharias
My first choice would be Babe Didrikson Zaharias. Bobby Jones declared her to be one of the ten best golfers ever, male or female. Her list of achievements as an all around athlete is legendary. Born in 1911, she excelled in both basketball, tennis and track and field during her teens and twenties, and won gold and silver medals for the U.S. in the 1932 Olympics.
Only after she had achieved world fame in these sports did Babe take up the game of golf. But as a natural athlete it took her very little time to excel at the game. No one could touch her. As both an amateur and a professional golfer, she won every major tournament at least once and did more than anyone to popularize women’s golf. She is one of the original founders of the LPGA and is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. I want Babe on my fantasy team! Just look at her enthusiasm!
Annika Sorenstam
The second player on my fantasy team would be Annika Sorenstam. From her days as a rookie golfer in 1994 to today, dedication and discipline have been her focus. She has won every major tournament out there and was money leader on the LPGA tour for eight of the ten years between 1995 and 2005. In 2001 she shot the lowest round in LPGA Tour history with a 59. “In my life in golf, she hits it dead solid more consistently than any golfer I’ve ever seen.” – Ely Callaway (founder of Callaway Golf) No question, I want Annika on my team!
My third choice for golfer on my fantasy team would be Christina Kim. She may have started playing golf a little late— at the age of 12 (considered “late” by today’s obsessed, possessed standards) but she is one talented golfer and her attitude is so upbeat and positive she can only make my fantasy round of golf a total hoot. In this short video she makes her love of the game clear.
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And then we come to the fourth player of my fantasy team… me! – Your really amateur, but enthusiastic golfer, who loves the game, plays whenever she can, knows she can only improve! and shares her enthusiasm with anyone who will listen! With the athletic ability of Babe, the discipline of Annika, the free-wheeling joy of Christina, and my own enthusiasm for the game, it’s guaranteed to be a fabu fantasy round of golf.
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So that’s my fantasy foursome for golf. If you had a chance to pick your own… who would you want to play with?
For me it would definately by Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam. Karrie because she’s Australian and Annika because she’s also a great champion and enjoyed her golf.
Cheers
You gave me food for thought. I would have to say my four would be Kathy Whitworth, the winningest ever and still teaching in her 80’s; Julie Inkster, still going strong in her 50’s playing against players younger than her own daughters; Judy Rankin, terrific golfer and even better commentator with great knowledge of the game and of course Annika. I guess that would make it a fivesome but that’s ok. As an aging golfer myself I have utmost respect for these women who have stayed at the top of their games for so many years.