Off the whites at Gleneagles

What a lovely May Bank Holiday weekend I had up at Gleneagles! I had the opportunity to play the PGA Centenary Course which will host the 2014 Ryder Cup and stay at the hotel the night before my round. I had never played any of the courses at Gleneagles so I was really looking forward to the experience. But let me fast forward to today. I received an email from Gleneagles to inform me that they have won the Daily Telegraph Ultra Travel Award for Best Golf Resort in the World- for the second year running. If you've ever played and stayed at Gleneagles, it's easy to understand why. David, who looked after me on reception, went out of his way to make it easy for me to ditch my bags before my round and check in quickly.  Jane, in the Pro Shop, had the patience of a saint on a very busy weekend and was great fun. And, I enjoyed some friendly banter with Eric, the starter (and a fellow Yorkshireman), on the first tee. Even before I hit a golf ball, I felt like I knew half the staff.

But, without doubt, the most impressive thing about Gleneagles was the tees. I have visited many UK golf clubs where it is naturally assumed that women tee off the red tees and, even as female pro, I have been asked to tee off the red tees. Gleneagles was a breath of fresh air.  Eric, the starter, asked me which tee I would like to play off. The assumption at Gleneagles is that I should play off the tee most suited to my ability, not my gender. So, I chose to tee off the whites and it was great to be so close to where the fellas will tee off in 2014.

I played a lot of golf in the States where I went to college. Over there, choosing a tee based on your ability is the norm.  It's not unusual to see a man teeing off from tee in front of his wife, if she is the better player.  It's about making the course a fair test and enjoyable for every player.  So, regardless of age or gender, choose the tee that makes sense.

I shot level par off the whites. There were some very tricky tee shots and I can't wait to see how the guys handle the course in 2014.

Busy week ahead but staying in Blighty all week.  Down in Surrey now ready for two days with Callaway Golf at the Ladies Golf Cup at Burhill Golf Club.  I will be demonstrating the Odyssey range of putters including the women's range. I remember when I was just starting off playing golf and it was so hard to find any women's equipment.  It seems a bit old fashioned to talk about women's equipment and men's equipment.  It's all about playing the right specification for you. And nowadays there's so much choice in the specs, you really can choose the equipment that suits you the best. 

When you're young and growing you get stronger over time and your swing changes, so you need keep on top of things and get your clubs fitted.  Same as you grow older and you slow down a bit- you can't expect to be playing specs that the young guns play :-) When I'm 90 with 2 new hips and knees, I promise you I won't be playing with stiff shafts! The equipment is made to measure so that you can continue to get the best out of your game and keep enjoying playing golf.  

Practising putting on the greens of the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai with ProType #2

Had a great time in Norway despite eating pot noodles every night for 5 nights.  Eating Pot Noodles has nothing to do with fussy eating- I love all kinds of food- more about trying to manage the expense of playing in Norway.  Anyway, 3rd place finish so something worked- maybe it was the Pot Noodle after all! :-)  Or it might have something do with my coach, David Llewellyn.  Me and the boss in action below...

Hard hitting facts #1: Hit it like a girl- lack of free equipment for female pro golfers

The majority of female pro golfers in Europe don't receive free of charge equipment from the club manufacturers.  They might sneak a few "hand me downs" from the reps, but they are not contracted to play a particular brand.   I'm a very fortunate exception because I'm with Callaway. So, why the reluctance to supply free stock?  I'd always assumed that manufacturers didn't support women in the same way as their male counterparts because women don't play "womens'" spec clubs. So, I guess it means that you can't really show photos advertising us swinging away with the latest women's range because we can't use those clubs. In the same way, if your average male club golfer saw a female pro advertising the latest Ping driver would he be likely to go out and buy it? Probably not.  Someone mentioned that only 3 women on the Ladies European Tour actually get paid to play manufacturers' equipment. I don't know factually if that's true.  But I wouldn't be surprised if it is.  I don't want to sound like I'm tarring all the equipment manufacturers with the same brush- some are more generous than others.  We might not realistically feature in promo campaigns for equipment, but in golf as a whole, not just women's golf, we are the "coolest kids", influencing a lot of people to go out and try, get fitted and buy the equipment we recommend.  Experential marketing personified. Callaway get it. Wish more manufacturers did.

Staying with the lovely Torbjorn and Carina, members of Ljundbyhed Golf Club who kindly offered the tour a room for the week and ended up with me! It's great staying in a lovely home instead of a hotel. I always love playing in Sweden, but this week is even better because I have a home away from home.

Using female Olympians in ad campaigns

How great is it to see our Olympians popping up in adverts on the telly - the girls and the boys. Especially for the girls though. Shanaze Reade for Holiday Inn, Jessica Ennis as a Proctor and Gamble beauty ambassador. Amazed that it's taken something like the Olympics to prick the interest of the big companies. Don't believe what the Girl Guides say; there are LOADS of great female role models out there! Hope it's not short-lived and these companies continue this good practice after the Olympics. It's easy for any company to support young sports people- stop paying models to appear in your campaigns and use local sports people instead. Sorted!

Well done Holiday Inn using Shanaze Reade!