Nude Golf has a New Venue: Karlskoga Golfklubb

Newsflash: Karlskoga Golfklubb, in central Sweden, is relaxing their dress code... significantly.

Effective immediately as soon as it warms up a bit, "country club conservative" will be replaced by "clothing optional" on the fairways of this established course. You see, the golf club has recently partnered with a local "naturalist club" and Karlskoga General Manger, Sven Nödtorftig, embraced the concept of golf in-the-altogether, with enthusiasm although he was careful to reassure those who find the idea of nude golf... and nude golfers... unsettling. "We aren't forcing everyone to play naked," he declared, "and you will see the naked players playing at specific times, such as early morning or late afternoon".

Mr. Nödtorftig BTW, is himself a naturist, and presumably looks forward to playing in the buff as the sunny season begins.

I've written about nude golf on a couple of occasions, most recently a couple of months ago regarding Nude Golf International, a global nude golf tournament that takes place in New Zealand.

However, it was the awesome Exilgolfer who tweeted me about this latest nude golf development,... and he's got additional details... and photos.

Though most everyone I've spoken to on this side of the Atlantic seems to find the idea of playing golf in the nude quite preposterous... and one does need to be careful regarding sun exposure...  the concept seems to be catching on in other lands.  It's a trend worth watching. IMHO.

GolfGirl Infographics - 2011 Masters, Early Picks

Infographics are awesome.  Marketers love them - that's a given - but so do regular folks, and these days they're everywhere; offering a whimsical visual representation of virtually anything,  from the cause of jet lag... to the cost of a latte... to the demographics of the internet.

At their simplest infographics are merely charts or graphs,  but they can also be compelling works of an illustrator's art. 



The Masters begins in a week and already it's THE major topic of conversation in golf. The tournament's distinctive history and unique traditions... combined with the wealth of statistics that come out of it each year makes it quiet "infographically friendly".

I've put together a quick word visualization infographic (above) based on early 2011 Masters picks (about 60). I culled them from predictions posted in the forum at sandtrap.com  and randomly on Twitter.  Yes, Tiger dominates, thus his name kind of stands out on the above. Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Nick Watson were also popular, then came Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell ... and so on.  The tiniest names had only been picked by one fan as of Wednesday 4/30 PM.  The pie below can only accomodate a few of the top picks.  I must work on that.  Anyway it's a start.

I have a feeling I'll be creating a few more visual representations of the 2011 Masters before it's over.

 

 Also...

3 votes - Hunter Mahan
2 votes each - Lee~Westwood, Anthony~Kim, Rickie~Fowler, Rory~Mcilroy, Luke~Donald, K.J.~Choi
1 vote each - Sergio~Garcia, Miguel~Jiminez, Angel~Cabrera, Ryo~Ishikawa, Ian~Poulter, Ernie~Els, Alvaro~Quiros, Justin~Rose,  Ricky~Barnes, Mark~Wilson, Steve~Stricker, Retief~Goose, Francesco~Molinari

A Chat With the Enlightened Golfer - Blog Talk Radio

A bit later today... 12noon ET to be exact... I'll be joining Golf Goddess Margarit Brigham of Enlightened Golfer to talk about... golf.

We'll discuss the state of the recreational game... on course and online... and we'll touch upon some of awesome organizations that are working to make golf more accessible. Particularly for women. We'll talk about how golf media has grown exponentially, and share links to some of the great new golf publications (digital and traditional). ~ The show can be heard live at 12:00 on Blog Talk Radio.

Or if you're not free you can download the file and listen at your leisure. I'm sure it'll be a fun and enlightening time. 

German Golf, Ryder Cup 2018 & Sandra Gal's Win

I had to smile when I heard about Sandra Gal's win at the Kia Classic yesterday.

The first thing I thought of were the headlines it would produce. Any time a golfer has a last name that's also a word, things can get ...well... weird. Who'll ever forget the Jim Nantz reciting Bette Midler in honor of Justin Rose debacle, right? Needless to say, I was expecting the worst. -->



However,  thus far I've seen nothing more egregious than an inoffensive "Thatta Gal", so perhaps headline writers have finally learned to resist the facile play-on-words.

When Gal defeated five time winner... and third round leader.. Jiyai Shin for her first LPGA win yesterday, it was the only the second time a German national had ever won on the LPGA Tour.

The statuesque brunette was born in Dusseldorf and played collegiate golf at the University of Florida. She qualified for the LPGA Tour in 2008 and finished her degree... with honors.. while playing full time on the tour.

Certainly Sandra's win comes a good time for RC Deutschland GmbH, the bid company for the 2018 Ryder Cup in Germany.  Germany is one of the five nations bidding for the 2018 Cup, and their bid is backed two-time Masters Champion, hall-of-fame golfer, Bernhard Langer enjoying a stellar career on the Champions Tour and Martin Kaymer currently the No. 1 male golfer in the world. Both men are featured prominently on the German Bid website.  Now... somewhat unexpectedly... German golf also has a Gal!  (I apologize - I couldn't resist) I'm sure Sandra will be lending her support to the bid as well with the decision date fast approaching. 

In addition to her remarkable game,  Sandra Gal has a sleek style sense which was on display yesterday with the black leggings she wore under a red two-piece (Nike?) outfit.  And speaking of Sandra's sense of style, it was almost a year ago that the long-limbed golfer had a minor run-in with a dress code dictator at a Palm Springs Club where she was practicing.  Sandra was told she'd need to change because her shorts were too short!  The good-natured golfer took it all in stride and later tweeted about the encounter with humor.  I'm sure there are lots of golf fans looking forward to seeing Sandra Gal on the leaderboard throughout the season.

Playa del Carmen: Superlative Golf & a Very Sexy Hotel

A couple of decades ago Playa del Carmen was the small, sleepy fishing village tourists passed through on their way to Cozumel.  Now it's the center of the Mexican Rivera, and has itself become a mecca for travelers seeking a south-of-the-boarder holiday on the Caribbean Sea. Playa offers Mayan ruins, beautiful beaches and golf.  Lots of golf.

There's the Norman designed El Camaleón Golf Club at Mayakoba, site of the PGA Tour's Mayakoba Classic. Then there's Robert Von Hagge course at Playacar Spa & Golf Club and a Jack Nicklaus design at Moon Palace Spa &Golf Club... to name just a few in the area.

The above resorts sound dreamy and romantic and all, but what if you wish to combine your golf break with a bit of old-fashioned... debaucherie?

Well then you may wish to book your stay at the Reina Roja Hotel.

Urban Daddy, the glossy online magazine/daily newsletter, describes the Reina as, "a sultry adults-only homage to titillation of all types..." and they elaborate with this:

"Upon arrival, you’ll notice everything is bathed in red light, from the deep, rich wood in the lobby bar to the chains hanging next to your bed."  ... and this ... "Eventually, you’ll return to one of the hotel’s five themed rooms. There’s the Espacio Erótico, which comes equipped with an extra-large cage—for very large birds, of course. But we’re thinking the After Hours space, a soundproofed abode with disco balls, room for eight people and mirrored ceilings."

So there you are.  And get this golfers: The themed rooms include one that appears to be designed especially for prurient putters; it's lined floor to ceiling with artificial turf ...the bed even has an astroturf comforter.   I'm guessing The Reina Roja would easily make the Sunday Times World's Best Hotels for a Dirty Weekend list.  Salacious sandbaggers can make reservations at reinarojahotel.com.

Photos (top to bottom): El Camaleón Golf Club via MyakobaGolfClassic.com --- Reina Roja Hotel via UrbanDaddy.com

Golf Club Cutie and a Weekend Facelift

Two human years, it's been theorized, is like 10 in blog years, which means Golf Girl's Diary is approaching 45... and I realized a few days ago that the time had come for a facelift.

I didn't want to do anything radical, just a quick fix to reverse the signs of aging... without down time or risk of complications, if you know what I mean...and if you've ever inadvertently messed up the coding on your blog, you do.



Hence the weekend facelift and a slightly new look for Golf Girl's Diary. I'll probably continue to tinker around with it for a while, and eventually I'll go for the extreme makeover with a board certified designer, but for the time being I'm getting used to the new look and feeling quite... rejuvenated.  Plus, I had an amazing amount of fun with the color selection tool I used.

If you love color, you'll love COLOURlovers. It's a kind of social network where members "create and share colors, palettes and patterns to nurture their ongoing love affair with color" and it's built around a powerful suite of color scheme and pattern generation tools.  You can generate your look from a photo or illustration too. I got the color scheme for this blog by uploading my Golf Girl Media logo.

When you come up with a color palette you can name it and share it with others.  The funniest part was went I did a search for golf and came up an awesome selection of eclectic color schemes. Below are just a few of hundreds of golf related palettes:


Color by COLOURlovers

Color by COLOURlovers

Color by COLOURlovers

Color by COLOURlovers

Color by COLOURlovers

Color by COLOURlovers

Yes, I'm totally in love with COLOURlover.

Tiger on Today's Young Guns: "I'd Go Watch Ryo"

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It was boorish question,  but Tiger Woods didn't hesitate to answer it.

Asked who he'd most like to follow among the next generation if he were a fan at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the answer came quickly:  "For me personally, I would go watch Ryo"

Tiger then attempted to explain the unique appeal of the Japanese superstar, mentioning basic characteristics like his gentle demeanour and the purity of his putting stroke.



If Tiger's choice surprised you, then welcome to the Ryo Ishikawa phenomenon. The teenager is already a mega-star in his native Japan... and doesn't look like his celebrity will have any trouble going international.

Of course, no one has to convince me of that.

Photos: AP/via Sulekha.com

Funny Golf Tweets - A Repetitive Scavenger Hunt

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Raph's Rousing Win & Tiger's Take on the French Bid

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My first official round of golf took place in France, on a municipal course just outside of Paris, and my biggest cheerleader in learning the game has been a Frenchman.  That same Frenchman is also my favorite and at times most annoying playing partner. The French Open, back in 2007, was my first time at a professional golf tournament.

Without a doubt, France has a major place in my personal history with golf, and as such, I'm a huge fan of French players.  Gregory Havret's 2010 U.S. Open run last summer... The French team's victory at the 2010 World Amateur Championship... those kinds of things tend to make me happy. So naturally, when I heard Raphael Jacquelin had won the (rain delayed) Sicilian Open on Monday, I was très heureux... to say the least.

This win was long awaited too, as they often are in professional golf.  It was the Jacquelin's third win on the European tour the previous one being the 2007 BMW Asian Open.  Four years... and a full beard later... Raf is once again in the winner's circle and France... along with Spain, Portugal, Holland and Germany... is about to find out if it will be hosting the 2018 Ryder Cup. The winner is to be announced at Wentworth Club on May 17th.

The French Ryder Cup bid is brilliant and players of all nationalities are speaking about Paris as a stellar venue.  Lee Westwood talked about the final four holes at Golf National and the familiarity professional golfers have with the course. 2010 Captian Colin Montgomerie mentioned the global significance of the city of Paris.   Tiger Woods weighed in as well. He reminisced on playing there in 1994 at the World Amateur Championship and revealed he'd only been to Paris a couple of times, but declared that it would be a great venue.

As the most visited city in the world, Paris has an infrastructure that can efficiently handle the masses of visitors a Ryder Cup would bring and clearly, the players love GolfNational.  With Chateau de Versailles as a backdrop, a FanZone at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and till-you-drop shopping on the Champs Elyses... it's definitely a tantalizing picture, but what many are most impressed with in the French bid is its commitment to growing the game though the development of at least 100 urban golf facilities.  These facilities would bring golf to areas where the population currently has little access, namely in and around urban centers. They'd be open to all and would not only provide top notch instruction and formation for future professionals,  but would also be public venues where a casual golfers could play a casual round without stringent dress codes and with rented equipment. It sounds like a solid step towards increasing golf's accessibility.

It'll be a few weeks before we know which of the five contending nations will host the Ryder Cup in 2018. The competition is stiff and I don't envy the selection committee. If you get a chance, check out the various bids and I'd love to know which one you feel makes the best case as host city.

For the time being I'm sure "Raph" is relishing his recent win... and hoping the French bid prevails.

Photos (top to bottom): Stuart Franklin/Getty Images Europe***Golf Girl Media***Clive Mason/ALLSPORT***Ryder Cup France***Stuart Franklin/Getty Images Europe

Sources: RaphaelJacquelin.com***European Tour - Jacquelin The Man in Sicily***Golf 360 - A Ryder Cup in Paris?

JLPGA - Raising Funds & Facing Event Cancellations

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The LPGA took giving to a whole new level at the inaugural Founder's Cup this past weekend, with the entire $1 million purse going to charity.  Half the amount went to Girls Golf and the other half to player designated charities with quite a few players choosing Japan Relief charities for their shares. 

Meanwhile half a world away a group of JLPA players... their country facing an epic disaster and their tournaments canceled... got together and took action at Hakata station in Fukuoka, a historical city in southern Japan.  Eleven players gathered collection bins and lined up their golf bags at Station Square. There they spent spent hours on a rainy Saturday afternoon collecting donations for their countrymen whose lives have been so terribly turned around by the recent disasters. This endeavor was initiated by Yui Kawahara, a twenty two year old player who's know for her whimsical cowboy hats.  Her family home actually sustained some damage during the earthquake.  Other players who joined the fundraising were Ryuu Ritsuko, Rui Kitada, Baba Yukari, Yumiko Baba, Shinobu Moromizato, Saiki Miki, Iizima Akane, Koga Miho, Sato Nozomi and Arimura Tie.   And there to lend the lady golfers a hand were Kazumi Saitou and Nobuhiko Matsunaka players from the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks baseball team. 

The group collected 75,480,222 yen in just a couple of hours and a strong media presence at the station ensured that their message of giving would be heard.  Others in the Japanese golf industry donated generously as well, with companies like Bridgestone Group, and Yonex... as well as groups like the Japanese Golf Writer's Association and The Women's Professional Association... offering services, products and much needed funds.

Three consecutive JLPGA events have been canceled since the March 11 earthquake.  Most recently it was announced that The Yamaha Ladies Open, scheduled for April 1-3, would not take place.  The extent of the disaster makes that understandable but I'm guessing it's frustrating for the players.

Ai Miyazato, who'll be playing in the US this week at the Kia Classic wrote a touching story for Golf.com. today, in it the player... who has held the No. 1 spot in the world several time during the past year...  spoke of wanting to play now, and to the best of her abilities, because athletes can provide hope and courage.  In addition, she'll be fund raising through a website she's set up with Momoko Ueda and Mika Miyazato who are also playing on the LPGA Tour.  Their slogan is Makeruna Nippon which means,  Never give up, Japan. The site can be found at  justgiving.com/MakerunaNippon.

Photos: via GDO Japan
Sources: 
GDO Japan
GOLF.com - The tragedy in Japan has inspired me to play better and help others

Portrait of a Golf Girl by Mike Belindo

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Remember last week I told you about the social media golfers in Spain who've launched Twittour, a Twitter-based golf tour?  Well the Twittour website was designed by one of those golfers, David Amezqueta, and a couple of days ago he sent me the above rendering of... @GolfGirl. She's a whimsical Marge Simpson look-alike who clearly loves the color pink.

David is from Pamplona and has his own blog, Mike Belindo, where he talks about golf and life... and features many of his own illustrations.  It's in Spanish of course, but even if you don't understand the language it's still a fun blog to look at...  and if you hang around there often enough David might just do a portrait of you.

Cristie Kerr Honored at "Celebrity Fight Night"

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It was quite a weekend for Cristie Kerr.

Her fourth place finish today at the inaugural RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup means that her designated charities will share in the $1 million all-charity purse.  Not surprisingly, Birdies for Breast Cancer the charity she founded five years ago and has worked for tirelessly, will get one half of her $40 thousand winnings.  The other half will go to The Muhammed Ali Parkinson's Charity.

On Saturday evening Cristie received the prestigious Muhammad Ali Award for Sports Achievement at a glittery gala, hosted by the legendary three-time World Heavyweight Champion. The evening honors leaders in sports, entertainment and business who, like the iconic boxer, exemplify a winning spirit and singular generosity.

 Celebrity Fight Night has been held annually for almost two decades and has raised over 65 million dollars for Parkinson’s research. It's universally recognized as one of the country's top charity events and, year after year, it attracts the world's brightest stars for an incredible live auction and extraordinary performances by top entertainers.

Cristie looked stunning in a in firey red one-shoulder evening gown and sat with fellow honoree Halle Berry who, it turns out, is quite obsessed with... golf. In fact Ms. Berry hosts her own charity golf classic. ~ I'm guessing the actress may have asked for a couple of tournament tips from the golf star.

The LPGA now moves on to Los Angeles for the Kia Classic.

Photo of Cristie Kerr: Michael Buckner/Getty Images, North America

Japanese Fans Take Comfort in Ryo's Message Home

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Several days ago Ryo Ishikawa posted a message on his blog for the people of Japan.  One of my Japanese friends, Noriko Imano, told me about it and supplied her translation.

Even though I'm in the US, I can feel that people in Japan keep calm and cooperate closely. 
I'm very proud of this as a Japanese, from the bottom of my heart. 
At the same time, I've been thinking what I can do as a professional golfer. 
I'm far from Japan now, but I'd like to send words to encourage people in Japan who are fighting fears. 
When you wish very strong, it surely comes true. 
If everyone tries his best for what he/she has to do, good things will happen finally. 
I really believe so.
This is the time when Japan and the world should be tied closely.

For Noriko... and for the other Japanese people I've spoken with...  this message was both comforting and inspiring.  It resonated with both young and old... in cities and in the countryside.

Over the past several days, the international press has collectively marveled at the Japanese sense of community and connectedness.  Many have noted the absence of disorder, looting and lawlessness because in most of the rest of the world the reaction to disaster has looked quite different.

On September 11, 2001 I was working for the US branch of a French fine art publishing company. We had dozens of clients in downtown Manhattan, some just blocks from where the World Trade Center stood. I called each one of them in the dark days that followed the collapse of the twin towers and, one after another, they told me that their main concern in the wake of the of the attacks, was looting.   Some resisted leaving their shops despite the chalky dust that that lined the streets and hung in the air and acrid smoke from the still-burning rubble.  By the time I made my way down to see these clients several days later, the dusty streets had been cordoned off and the National Guard had been brought in to provide security.  I passed through check points to get to the small galleries and shops and visit with the beleaguered shopkeepers.  Ultimately, there were few reports of lawlessness the aftermath of 9/11... and many stories of courage and kindness... but the fear of looting was very real, and many of the natural disasters that occurred in the decade that followed 9/11... in widely disparate countries...  produced reports of looting and price gauging. 

Japanese culture, and the way the Japanese people are handling this monumental disaster... their  civility, equanimity and respect for order... has become a huge part of the story these last days and the calm cooperation that Ryo referenced with pride in his message home, has captured the attention of the world. 
  
Earlier today I received a message from Noriko that linked me to an article in Golf Digest Online, Japan. It featured the above photo from yesterday's Pro-Am at the Transitions Championship . 

"Here is Ryo at Pro-Am in Ryo's color. According to the article of Golfdigest, during Pro-Am, Ryo's driver shots were not very good, so, he practiced driver at the practice range till 7pm. He was the last person who left the range."

Editor's Note: If you read this blog regularly, you probably know I've been Ryo fan for years.  In fact I first wrote about him almost four years ago as he prepared to compete at Junior World and I've written him dozens of times since. It's been awesome to see him do so well.  Ai Miyazato, Mika Miyazato, Makoto Takemura and Ryo's sister Yoko among them.  I love Japanese golf fashion and accessories too and had been planning to get over there this summer.  That may have to be put off for a bit  but in the meantime I'm working on a couple of  great ideas for supporting Japan and the Japanese people. I'll keep you posted.

Golf Season Starts at The Connecticut Golf Show

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With temperatures rising into the fifties and the last traces of snow quickly (finally) melting away,  courses here in CT... and throughout the tri-state area... are preparing to welcome the season's first golfers.

Meanwhile, area golfers can get back into the swing of things at the new Connecticut Golf Show, which starts tomorrow and runs throughout the weekend at the Connecticut Convention Center, in Hartford.

The latest in club technology from top brands will be there for the trying... and buying, there will be seminars, clinics and contests galore, with great prizes up for grabs and lots of give-aways to be had.

PGA Tour Pro Billy Andrade will be sharing stories, signing autographs and giving golfers the insider tips for a better game and top rated PGA instructor George Connor will be giving free tips and lessons. The Putting Doctor, Joe Bermel will also be there throughout the show, demonstrating his “Keys to Good, Consistent Putting.”

After a particularly harsh winter the show presents a great way for Nutmeg State golfers to get back into the game and start the season in style.  Check out the CT Golf Show website for more details.

CT Golf Show
Connecticut Convention Center - Hall B
100 Columbus Blvd
Hartford, CT 06103

Show Hours
Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Men's Golf Fashion - The Fuller Cleveland?

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Last year at this time it seemed the latest revival of the Full Cleveland had finally played itself out.

After two seasons of near ubiquity, many assumed it was headed back into hibernation for a decade or so, as it's done a number of times in the past.

Apparently however, that assumption was misguided as recent tournaments have yielded several sightings of the sartorial misdeed.

Tiger Woods and Graeme McDowell were both rocking the look at Doral last week... perhaps emboldened by Rory Mcilroy's rendition at Honda earlier in the month... or Lee Westwood's at the same event.  That's four of the world's top ten right there, and though I don't foresee a full Cleveland-clad Martin Kaymer anytime in the near future, it wouldn't surprise me to see plenty of white belts worn with plenty of white shoes at PGA events this summer.  And these days, as fellow golf blogger courtgolf astutely pointed out, the look can be taken to the next level by adding a striking white driver and/or a pure white putter.

Court, who writes over at Waggleroom, and regularly comments on timely topics at a number of other golf blogs, generally concentrates on more "weighty" issues,  however he's also a keen... and often bemused... observer of fairway fashion.  In a quick tweet yesterday, he asked me:

What's the next level after "Full Cleveland" ? If a guy also has a white driver...is there something after Cleveland ?

I thought it was a legitimate question... and I think it needs a name. Any suggestions anyone? The sooner the better, I'm have a feeling we'll be needing it for Ian Poulter at the Masters in a couple of weeks.

Chapeau Noir Golf, one of the world's best golf fashion blogs, a more in-depth analysis of the look we know as the Full Cleveland. Also....The Full Cleveland is a whimsical coming-of-age novel by Terry Reed.

Photo (Tiger Woods): Scott Halleran

Birdy & Grace Seek the 2011 Golf Woman of the Year

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Spring is just around the bend, and the search is on.

Birdy & Grace, has launched its second annual search for the Golf Woman of the Year, so if you know a woman with a passion for golf, family, fitness and community... or if you are that woman... listen up! ~ Because that's the type of woman they're looking for.

An “everyday woman", who inspires or helps others through the way she lives her life.  Shannon Hall is a good example.  She's the 2010 Golf Woman of the Year winner.

The prize is an awesome one: a trip to New York City for a photo shoot with a top fashion photography team.  The winner will be showcased as a featured model in a forthcoming Birdy & Grace collection catalogue and in pr campaigns for Spring 2012,  she'll also  receive custom-fitted outfits, and other prizes.

Birdy & Grace blends fun, flirty and fashionable with perfectly functional. They consider things like pocket placement, fabric texture and length to ensure a flattering fit on all body types and full range of motion for every aspect of the golf swing. Each item in each Birdy & Grace collection is both contemporary and classic... and designed to work equally well on the course and in town.

Sharon Sunoo and Teress Stephens founded their company to create golf clothes with stellar street style. Clothes that could comply with even the strictest country club dress code, but still shine on the streets of New York.  That's what they've done with Birdy & Grace.

The rules and requirements for Golf Woman of the Year are pretty simple, and you can nominate yourself or someone you know. The nominee must be an amateur woman golfer over the age of 25 and must answer this: What does golf mean to you; where you see the future of women’s golf; what social causes are important to you and why; and why would you make a great ambassador for Birdy & Grace.

Each entry must be accompanied by a photo, and the deadline for entries is July 1 2011. Submit yours to info@birdyandgrace.com and become a "fan" of Birdy & Grace on Facebook... and you're good to go.

Good Luck Golf Girls!

Ryo Ishikawa Shows Amazing Strength at Doral

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Here at Golf Girl's Diary our Ryo Ishikawa obsession is well known.

Normally our stories are light-hearted; we write about Ryo's whimsical outfits or his delightfully quirky commercials. He even made a certain Sexiest Men in Golf list recently.

The combination of his stellar on-course accomplishments and his superlative star quality make Ryo Ishikawa a uniquely entertaining professional golfer.

Today however, the eyes of the golf media are collectively focused on Ryo Ishikawa as news of devastating natural disasters in Japan makes its way to our shores and to the fairways of TPC Blue Monster at Doral.

In Miami at the WGC Cadillac Championship... amazingly... the one they call "Hanikami Ōji" heard the devastating news this morning, checked on the safety of his loved ones,  then finished his first round at 7-under 65, in second place.

Ryo has a tough weekend ahead of him as he battles the Blue Monster and deals with the unfolding news of the tragedy in his homeland,  but no matter how the tournament turns out, his strength will surely be an inspiration to his fellow golfers and to golf fans everywhere.

Photo: by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America

GolfOMeter - Golf Gadget of the Month?

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It's an odd little instrument... and I'm not really sure what it does... so it may not be worthy of the prestigious Golf Gadget of the Month designation.

From what I can see, though, this rare vintage "New Haven Golf Meter" measures yards and miles. I don't not know how it works.... or... if it works, but it looks like a pretty awesome collector's item to me.

If anyone reading has used a Golf-O-Meter, I'd love to know more about it.  It might just help me to take my game to the next level this year.

Or not.

石川 遼 - Ryo Ishikawa: The Field's Youngest Gun

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Early one morning a couple of weeks ago,  a lone golfer was observed on the range at Dove Mountain, hitting balls in the chill desert air.  It was Ryo Ishikawa.  GolfWeek writer Jim McCabe described the scene, including the gaggle of photographers sprawled on the frosty grass nearby, dutifully doing their job.

Ryo is back on the scene this week for the star-studded  WGC Cadillac Championship  and at 19 he's the youngest in the field.  As expected, he's adding characteristic color to the proceedings.  At today's practice round he wore multi-chromatic Yonex stripes.  Always observant Ishikawa fan Noriko Imada, sent me a link to the photo above just a few minutes ago.

On Thursday Ryo will be part of what's sure to be a popular pairing.  He'll be playing with Rickie Fowler... who compliments him perfectly... and for the first time with rookie wonder, Jhonattan Vegas.  Señor Vegas revealed in an interview earlier today that he was having trouble getting used to all the media attention he'd been getting of late.  His Japanese playing partner could certainly to give him some advice on that topic. Let's hope they discuss it.

BTW, did you know there was a Magazine in Japan that's exclusively about Ryo.  Issue after issue, it's pure "Hanikami Ōji"... and even if your Japanese reading skills aren't quite up to par, it features fantastic photos and whimsical graphics. found out about it from another huge fan, @pipaatgreen ... who you should definitely follow if you're into Ishikawa.

The youthful trio tees off at 12:33 on Thursday.

Twittour 2011: Golfers in Spain Launch a Twitter Tour

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Todos Juntos.  It means All Together and it's the tag line for Spain's bid to host the 2018 Ryder Cup ... but it could also be the tag line for Spain's Twittour 2011.

Twittour was dreamed up by a group of Spanish golfers on Twitter who call themselves #jugones which means... gamers?  Close enough.  Anyway, these golfistas twiteros from all over Spain got to know each other over time via the celebrated social network.  They soon found they shared a passion for golf, and not long ago decided to do what most of us never get around to: they organized a real life golf tour and devirtualized their love for the game... and Twittour 2011 was born.

Twittour 2011 will be a series of tournaments on different courses in Spain.  The first event, Twittour 2011-Lerma, took place this past Friday at Golf Lerma, a pastoral parkland course in the Castillian countryside three hours north of Madrid.  Lerma was created on a site that was once a hunting estate, and when the Twittour group arrived at the course on Friday morning they found the wide fairways and undulating greens covered in a dusting of snow.  The hearty jugones were not intimidated however, and once the snow stopped falling they got right down to business despite the cold north wind whipping across the Lerma's many lakes. After their wintry round the players had a sublime Spanish dinner... with lots of wine. Prizes and awards were then presented.

Twittour 2011

The Twittour 2011 website is great.  There's a blog where members write posts about the tournaments and discuss current events and issues in golf (the awesome @martasegura writes about women in the game). There's also a media gallery with photos and videos and a schedule of events among other things.  And what's so inspiring is the way these golfers got together and made their Twittour a reality.   It looks like the next event is scheduled for May 20 in Madrid.

If your interested in global golf... and who isn't these days... if you're interested in the joy and conviviality of the game, and also if you're intrigued by the way social networks can bring people together, check out the Twittour 2011 website, (if you don't speak Spanish you can put it thorough Google translate and you'll get the gist).

The #jugones have a good thing going on, and their enthusiasm for golf is quite contagious.