Rosie Jones Golf Getaways
Rosie and Olivia
In 2003 I was on my first ever Olivia trip to the Mexican Riviera when I met Olivia's Owner Judy Dlugacz. Not long after our introductions, we started having conversations about Olivia's interest in finding a professional golfer to endorse their Company on the LPGA Tour. My first reaction was "Hey, I would love to take trips with Olivia and do golf outings in my upcoming retirement."
But Judy had something else in mind. She then asked me to wear Olivia on my hat and shirt while playing on Tour that year.
I thought about it literally for about one minute as my mind swirled in fast motion counting up all the ways coming out to America while still competing on the LPGA was going to change my life.
The conversation took on new life as I said "YES!" right there as all of our eyes popped wide open with surprise.
Of course there were many questions and many fears that I needed to tackle before I actually came out, but for the most part, I had wrestled many of those demons long before this and felt very positive about making this historical announcement.
In March 2004, the New York Times announced my coming out to the world that I am a lesbian and would be acting as a spokeswoman for "Olivia", a women's lesbian travel company.
Just as I was getting ready to slip off into retirement quietly after 22 years on tour, I did a 360 and made history on the LPGA tour. I proudly wore Olivia's name on my hat and shirt while playing my final year on the LPGA.
Coming out publicly for a current professional athlete was known and feared as an endorsement suicide.
But I wasn't really worried about that. I felt as if I was in a place in my life that I could risk standing up for something I believed in. Given the career I had had up to then with the respect and success as a top player, I knew I was getting ready to retire and thought this would be perfect timing for a coming out party.
Not only perfect for me, but perfect timing for Olivia as well. Perfect for the LPGA, who hadn't found a way to successfully approach the gay issues on tour, and for my US fans and the world in general. Already in the spotlight were brave entertainers like Ellen Degeneres, Melissa Etheridge, TV shows like Will and Grace, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and other. That led me to believe that this was not going to tilt the world onto its side. I'm just gay. So, let's go play golf.
So I did it. I came out in the New York Times the very week the LPGA was to play in Palm Springs at the Nabisco Championship. (otherwise known as Lesbian Mecca).
Talk about feeling a little vulnerable.
When most people come out in the workplace, they face about 35, maybe 100, people, tops. I walked out in front of hundreds of thousands of people who now knew the most valued secret of my life.
WOW, imagine showing up at work completely naked one day in front of thousands of people, knowing you are going to be on TV.
That was how I felt getting out of my car the first round of the Nabisco.
As the week went on I began to feel a little more comfortable in my skin because by Sunday final round, I was playing for the Championship Title. I was really hoping to make a monumental move on the back nine to win my first ever Major LPGA event, but I later succumbed to Grace Park and 6 others to finish 8th in the end.
That was a hell of a week, but what a perfect way to begin my new endorsement deal with Olivia.
That was almost 3 1/2 years ago, and my life has changed immensely from my association with Olivia. The freedom to live my life as I choose and not worry what people know or think about me, has allowed me to become more confident and live without any limitations.
With new energy and direction, Olivia and I are still together promoting the joy of golf with women. Since my retirement in July 2006, I have developed a company with my partner, Carrie Sexton, to take women on golf vacations. Check out my RosieJones Golf Getaways, presented by OLIVIA.
We are excited that our relationship will be extended with this new venture and look forward to seeing many of you on our next Golf Getaway.
