November 2, 2010

Summer Fun in 2010

The last couple of months have been very fun, busy and helpful as I keep plugging along towards the next phase of being the Captain of the 2011 US Solheim Cup Team!  Of course the 2010 Season is coming to a near end, but there is still a lot of exciting golf to be played as the tour is in Asia for this last swing before the final 2 events in Mexico and Orlando for the Tour Championship!

Solheim Cup Travel

Keeping me busy this summer was an invitation from one of the Official Solheim Cup Travel Companies to partner with them to help bring as many fans over to Ireland to Support our Team USA at the 2011 Solheim Cup next September in County Meath, Ireland.  RosieJones Golf Getaways is proud to offer two Non-Hosted Solheim Cup Travel Packages that include, Hotel, Breakfast, Transfers to Airport and Solheim Tickets to the compitition.  Check out our "Captains Package" for individual Travel and "Team USA Club Package"  for Groups of Ten or more Traveling to the Solheim Cup!  For more information check out Solheim Cup Travel on my web site  /index.php/solheim-cup-travel/   

Solheim Cup Points

Since my last entry, there has been a lot of exciting golf played by US Players as well as European players as Cristy Kerr still leads the US Point race going into the Asia Swing.  Michelle Wie is holding onto 2nd place since her Win in Canada and 2nd place showing in Arkansas, and Morgan Pressel having played some great golf this summer is in a strong third place.  A handful of experienced SC players sit right behind them rounding up the top 10, but watch out for some of the LPGA’s veterans like Wendy Ward, Michelle Redman and Juli Inkster who all racked up some points in October.

Next year is when the battle to make the team really starts to take shape as the players will be playing for amplified points during the Solheim Cup year.   

Ryder Cup!

This past month all eyes were on the Men’s US squad at the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, as they were trying their hand to upend the streak of homeland victories in Europe.  Lots to learn as many different stories unfolded for me to make note of and to prepare myself for the unexpected.  First and foremost, was the heat Captain Corey Pavin took for leaking raingear.  Lots of emails going around that early Friday morning as I was assured by our Rain Gear providers SunIce that our rain suits will be tested and retested before we head to Ireland as we will be experiencing some of the same wet rainy weather there as the men did this year in Wales.  Of course that Is one of my main concerns and considered a high priority when it comes to our equipment and the ability to keep our players dry and warm on the course.

Rain Suits aside, the competition was very insightful and the drama was intense as the final points were hashed out on final Sunday! 

Prattvile, Alabama!

One of my favorite things to do this year is to get out on the LPGA and nurture some of those relationships with potential players vying for the Solheim Cup. I was able to sneak over to Prattville Alabama, where I was able to have dinner with some of those gals (Cristy Kerr, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Vicky Hurst and Stacy Lewis) and watch many other US players there for the Navastar LPGA Classic.   That week was a good one to watch as they played another great Robert Trent Jones Trail course which always gives me some good opportunities to see the much needed iron precision and Control off the Tee.  Much like what they will need next year at Killeen Castle on the new Jack Nicklaus design parkland course. 

 Non-Captain Duties and Perks!

Aside from being C Captain, I still like to play some competition and did so on the Legends Tour, the official Senior Tour of the LPGA in The Handa Cup.  The Handa Cup is a Team Competition much like the Solheim Cup where Team USA took on the World at the Wentworth CC, this past September.  A fantastic venue and competition we Americans led by our Captain, the Legendary Kathy Whitworth was able to retain the Cup again to beat out Team World for the 2 day event on the windy vintage club in Portsmouth NH.  Teamed up with one of my Vice Captains Sherri Steinhauer, we were able to go undefeated as we were reminded of many situations that we will experience during next years Solheim Cup. 

 Golf in China!

Next on my Schedule was one of the many Perks of being The 2011 Solheim Cup Captain and that was an invitation to the Mission Hills Star Trophy event in Hainan China this past week.  In big company with Hollywood Stars and Golf Legends, I shared the Tee with many greats as we played for a whopping “Winner Take All $1.28 Million Purse”.  Lorena Ochoa won the Top Prize as I finished 4^th place after shooting a new course record 5 under in the 2^nd round of the event (Even Par- Total), playing with Greg Norman, Matthew McConaughey, and China star Michael Wong! 

Huge Golf event with Star studded field including Catherine Zeta Jones, Christian Slater, Annika Sorenstam, Lorena Ochoa, Hugh Grant, Michael Phelps, Greg Norman, Collin Montgomery and more as we played and stayed at beautiful the New Mission Hills Resort!  Red Carpet Venues and Events filled our days as the competition came down to the last couple of holes when Monty, Captain for the Men’s Europe Ryder Cup, made an unfortunate fraction of the rules to miss out on Play off with Lorena at after finishing -4 for the 2 days.

Until next time,  Keep it down the middle of the fairway!

 Go USA!  Relax but Attack!

 US Captain RoJo

               Rosie Jones