Dr. Haruhisa Handa - The Quintessential Golf Ambassador

The following is an excerpt from the recent interview I did with golf author/publisher Christina Ricci. ~ The entire interview can be found on Christina's blog, Miss Par. ~ A number of Christina's questions dealt with the increasing urgent issue of "growing the game" including this one where she asked me, "...who, in your eyes, is the quintessential Golf Ambassador? In other words, who do you feel is making that extra effort to grow the game?" I answered her, without hesitation, as follows: 

 

These days just about everyone involved with golf is aware that we need to bring new people into the game… and keep current players playing.
Many professional golfers and golf organizations are now involved in  initiatives to grow the game.  As for the quintessential Golf Ambassador, without a doubt that would have to Dr. Haruhisa Handa.

This Japanese philanthropist has been dedicated to growing the game of golf for almost 25 years. His International Sports Promotion Society has fostered partnerships with golf’s governing bodies worldwide to help develop the game at every level, advising professional tours, supporting their charitable efforts and sponsoring tournaments.

Dr. Handa is the Honorary Chairman of the Legends Tour and an advisor to the European Senior Tour. He’s also Chairman of the Women’s Senior Golf Association and an official Patron of Golf Australia.  In addition, Dr. Handa established the first Blind Golf Club in Japan, and is known to many there as the “Father of Blind Golf”. He serves as Honorary Chairman of the Japanese Blind Golf Association (NPO) and Honorary President of the International Blind Golf Association. He relentlessly promotes blind and disabled golf.

Long before “growing the game” became a cause célèbre, this extraordinary man was supporting organizations and efforts that allow young people, those in their senior years, and people with disabilities... from various backgrounds around the world... to be involved with, and inspired by, golf.  In my eyes, Dr. Handa is clearly a Golf Ambassador without equal.

How would you have answered Christina's question? Who do you see as the quintessential Golf Ambassador?

Past posts on the awesome Dr. Handa:
The Handa Cup and Dr. Haruhisa Handa 
International Showdown by the Sea - The Handa Cup

In Chilly NH, The 2011 Handa Cup Goes to Team USA

Though, there was little sun at Wentworth-by-the-Sea. , the team USA managed to shine at the Handa Cup this past weekend, winning seven of the twelve matches and capturing the trophy.

Hannaford and Kraft Foods, were the presenting sponsors and presented a check to The First Tee of New Hampshire and The First Tee of Maine in the amount of $75,000. Additionally, a check for $25,000 was donated to the Japan Relief Fund. The LPGA Legends showed their true spirit by adding another $10,000 to support Dr. Haruhisa Handa’s Japan Relief Fund, the patron sponsor’s ongoing effort to help rebuild his home country of Japan.

I'd planned to get up to New Hampshire for event but once again, life managed to get in the way.  I'm hoping to get to see the Legends Tour in action later in the summer.

Fighting Thin: Overcoming Your Fear of the Ground

Developing a comfort level for taking divots

I had big plans this week, that didn't quite happen.

My intention was to head down to Jersey early in the week to watch Sybase practice rounds at Hamilton Farm Golf Course, then turn around and spend the weekend up at Wentworth by the Sea cheering on team USA at The Handa Cup.

In the end an onerous non-golf writing project presented itself that was too good lucrative to pass up, and it effectively put the breaks on my interstate golf adventure.  So for the past six days I've been in front of my MacBook practically non-stop, immersed in the less-than-exciting a clinical overview.  >  >  >


At about noon today... in desperate need of a break after several hours writing case reports... I ventured on to Facebook, ostensibly to scrawl a quick birthday greeting on my cousin's wall. Instead I happened upon a great little video put together by Christina Ricci and Barry Goldstein. You probably know them both, Barry is one of the country's top teaching pros and a featured instructor on Golf Channel, while Christina is the force behind the excellent Golf Survival Guides. Her books speak to golfers of all levels and allow them to bring along a full repertoire of illustrated instructional elements every time they go to the course or practice range.

I've actually known Christina and Barry for a while, but I had no idea they did videos together.  Well, they do... and they're really good.  This one addresses a basic ball striking issue that women seem to be particularly susceptible to.



I've got to admit, topping the ball has always a problem for me. In fact, last year it even led to my inauspicious coronation as "Wormburner Queen". After watching this video though I feel a new determination to work on this issue and really do feel like I'll be able to fix it. I'll be sure to keep you posted.

A Professional Golfer Will Dance With the Stars

A while back Natalie Gulbis revealed that she'd love to be on  Dancing With the Stars.  

Well that hasn't happened yet, but Jan Stephenson, another "bubbly" blonde golfer, will be joining the line-up for Series 11 of Australia's DWTS.  

Jan Stephenson won three majors and 16 events in her extraordinary LPGA career but is often referenced as "the golfer who posed naked in a bath tub of golf balls".  

So be it. The awesome Aussie was never one let such things bother her, in fact she was always quite pragmatic about promoting sex appeal to encourage interest in women's golf. 

Jan will be partnered with Mark Hodge in the new season of the international hit TV show. The cast will also include a cheeky celebrity chef a couple of high profile celebrity models, a cricket superstar and a world champion surfer.

Jan now plays on The Legends Tour and holds the top spot in Legends Tour career money.  She's been named for the sixth time to the Handa Cup World Team to be played May 19 – 22, 2011 in Rye, NH.  I'm looking forward to heading up to the historical Wentworth-by-the-Sea golf course to attend the event and meet Jan... before she trades her golf shoes for dancing shoes.