July is the big junior golf month. Traveling, practicing and playing, this is it! For the first time the BirdieSisters will separate and play in different states. Please keep the comments and well wishes flowing to motivate the girls this month!
- July 1st — IJGA YDP (10-11) at “Cog Hill”
- July 6th — Bob-O-Links Mid-Summer Classic, “Jackson Park”
- July 7th — US Kids Local Tour “Sanctuary”
- July 8th — IJGA YDP (10-11) at “Glenview National 9″
- July 9th — IJGA YDP (10-13) at “Arlington Lakes”
- July 13-15th — Callaway Junior World Championships in San Diego, CA - Myah only
- July 13-14th — MAJGT “Blackberry Oaks” - Erica only
- July 15th — US Kids Local Tour “Sportsman’s Park” - Erica only
- July 18-19th — Midwest Golf Assoc. Junior Championship, Lima, OH
- July 22nd — IJGA YDP (6-9) “Winnetka”
- July 30th — IJGA YDP (10-11) “Craig Woods”
The BirdieSisters also hope to find time to make it to their family reunion this month in Laurel, MS.
Posted 2 years, 7 months ago. Add a comment
The Illinois Junior Golf Association started its season for the 10-11 year old girls and boys on Friday, June 12th. The first tournament was held at “Flagg Creek Golf Course” in Countryside, Illinois — approximately 20.5 miles from home (approx. 40 minutes). Erica’s tee time was 8:46 a.m. Taking the morning rush hour traffic into consideration, we departed home at 6:30 am. When we left the house it was 51 degrees with light rain. By the start of the tournament it was in the mid-60s, and by the 9th hole turn it was 77 degrees without a cloud in the sky.
BirdieSister Erica Jackson is trying to focus more on her start, but today was not the turning point. The greens changed speeds two or three times during the round, making putting even more difficult. She started slow again but managed to overcome some formidable competition.
For more information on the Illinois Junior Golf Association see: http://www.ijga.org/
For more information on the Flagg Creek Tournament see: http://ijga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/ijga9/event/ijga919/contest/4/leaderboard.htm
To view a photo from this tournament see: http://ijga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/ijga9/event/ijga919/album/a92c57ee-af42-43a5-b20a-df7fa4531bb6/index.htm?next=%2Fbluegolf%2Fijga9%2Fevent%2Fijga919%2Fcontest%2F1%2Fleaderboard.htm
Posted 2 years, 7 months ago. Add a comment
BirdieSisters played in their first MAJGT tournament yesterday and today. The MAJGT is a new junior golf league designed for those golfers who have demonstrated their ability to compete with the best junior golfers around the world. Learn more about MAJGT at http://www.ijga.org/majgt/about/overview.aspx
It was a 36-hole tournament held at Mill Creek Golf Course in Geneva, IL. With early tee times of 9:10am and 9:25am, the BirdieSisters were up at 5:00 am preparing to travel 90 minutes each way to Mill Creek. The weather conditions for this tournament were not the greatest. Yesterday at the start of play, it was about 55 degrees and drizzling. However, mid-way through the tournament the sun came out and the temperature increased to around 75 degrees. Today’s weather started out virtually the same as yesterday, except the sun never came out and the temperature didn’t rise above 63 degrees.
Both BirdieSisters Erica and Myah Jackson are competing in the Girls 11 and under division. This is BirdieSister Myah Jackson’s first 36-hole tournament, covering 5300 yards. Myah stated that she was up for the challenge. Although Myah’s score on day one did not reflect that she could handle 36-holes, she managed to lower her score by 16 shots on day two. Myah found a new level of play that we hope she never loses. We will keep you updated on her progress.
BirdieSister Erica Jackson played with an abundance of confidence on day one as she worked her game into a score of 82. Day two was also impressive even though her short game didn’t measure up to her game in day one. Overall, Erica had a very strong performance in this tournament.
For results visit, http://www.ijga.org/majgt/events/results.aspx.
Posted 2 years, 7 months ago. Add a comment
Today the BirdieSisters received the 6th of 7 tips needed to complete their 2nd degree Blackbelt in TaeKwonDo at Bally Total Fitness in Hyde Park, Chicago.
The BirdieSisters plan to accomplish their goal of second degree Blackbelt by September of this year. They have been studying the art for almost five years now. Keep following for more updates.
Posted 2 years, 8 months ago. Add a comment
This month the Birdiesisters will have to meet some diverse challenges:
- May 15th — Taekwondo Black Belt Tip Testing
- May 16th-17th — DuPage County Classic Golf Tournament
- May 28th — Chicago Public School Golf Skills Challenge
- May 31st — Piano Recital
Posted 2 years, 9 months ago. Add a comment
Congratulations! “Myah Jackson” you have been selected as a member of the 2009 Tiger Woods Foundation National Junior Golf Team.
This is Myah’s, second year on the team in which she will be given an exemption to play in the “Callaway Junior World Championships”. She is looking forward to excelling this summer. The team’s motto is ” Great people who happen to be Great Golfers”. For more information see www.tigerwoodsfoundation.org/junior_golf_team
Posted 2 years, 9 months ago. Add a comment
This is a true story told by South Shore Golf Course starter, Ray Scudder.
Every morning most of the golfers like to start early, which means that the first tee will always be brimming with a crowd anxiously waiting to play. You will find a mix of good golfers, hackers and beginners shoulder to shoulder waiting to tee it up and go.
On this particular morning there was a good mixture of men and women waiting near the first tee. When I called up the next foursome it turned out that only one in the group could hit a good tee shot while the remaining three pummeled their balls about sixty yards down the fairway. The crowd at the tee began to mumble, mostly complaining about the expanded time commitment it seemed they would have to make that day to play nine holes. Most of the grumbling seemed to be from female members of the awaiting foursomes.
All of a sudden, from out of the parking lot emerged two three wheeled hand carts seemingly on remote control as they made their way to the tee. On closer inspection two little girls in fact were supplying the forward progress. They went directly to the side of the women’s tee and awaited my signal for them to tee it up. Again, the crowd began to grumble, obviously concluding that shorter hitting was on the way adding more time to their game that day. The muttering continued with the likes of, “now those kids are going to hold us up” and looks of exasperation to punctuate their dissatisfaction.
I called for two ladies to join the little girls, at which point one of them called out ” how old are those kids?” is a disdain filled retort. I calmly replied that they were 8 and 10 years old respectively. “Lady Complainer” expressed it would ” take all day” to play nine holes with “them.” To which I smiled and said, “maybe it will take all day for them…playing with you.” They didn’t appreciate my remark.
When it was time to tee off Myah, the younger of the two girls, pulled out her driver and began her practice swing routine which brought hushed comments about the impeccable form, balance and power to her swings. Then Erica (the elder) started her routine to the growing smiles on the faces of all at the tee. Show time!
The two “ladies” hit first and burned worms with neither of their balls traveling more than 50 yards off the tee. The sisters took the tee with a quiet, disciplined command of that patch of green. Each launched drives as straight as they were long leaving the crowd in a delighted state of shock. Myah and Erica politely waited for their fellow foursome mates to catch up and this became the pattern for the rest of the round.
I caught up with the group on the fifth hole and asked the ladies how it was going and they replied, “We are gettig a golf lesson from 8 and 10 year old golfers!”
While this was going on Myah and Erica’s proud father (and their coach) was always nearby watching; quietly guiding each daughter’s development, respect and appreciation for the game on hallowed ground…their home course, South Shore GC (Chicago).
Posted 2 years, 9 months ago. Add a comment
The BirdieSisters are hoping that Spring is coming soon so they can get outdoors! Currently, they practice 2 hours a week at the Village of Bridgeview Sports Dome with Alexis Mihelich (amihelic@csu.edu). Alexis has taken an interest in helping the BirdieSisters refine their game. The BirdieSisters appreciate Alexis’s time and support. The BirdieSisters love having exposure to a female role model who understands the unique challenges of female golfers. The BirdieSisters also practice two days a week in their basement. Given their involvement in school, dance, Girl Scouts, Tae Kwan do, piano and church, this is about all the practice the BirdieSisters get during the school year. But lookout, things will certainly change with the temperature!
Posted 2 years, 10 months ago. Add a comment
The BirdieSisters Erica Jackson and Myah Jackson reached the 5th of seven levels, on their way to a second degree blackbelt in the martial art of Taekwondo. The BirdieSisters practice five days a week, for 50 minutes a class. It takes approximately eight weeks for them to move to the next level. They have been practicing for more than four years now.
- BirdieSister Myah Jackson
The article, titled “NCAA Division I and II Recruiting Timelines for Junior Golfers”, will educate our members on the important dates and rules that will help them throughout the recruiting process. Please click here to read the article: Play Collegiate Golf – January Article
