BirdieSisters

Rehab Motivators- The Best!

The  BirdieSisters played today at South Shore Golf Course in the Rehab Motivators Golf Tournament.  This is their favorite tournament of the year —  its 10 minutes from home, a best ball tournament, and a 3 person team.  Although the BirdieSisters continue to be the only junior golf participants, they love the “rare” opportunity to play as part of a team. This year the BirdieSisters played with Mr. King, who received his first set of golf clubs at the age of 70 and had never taken a  lesson.   He taught himself the game by watching others and playing the game 7 days a week, often twice a day.  Nine years later, Mr. King said he got his first golf lesson from the BirdieSisters.  The threesome played 9 holes, which gave Mr. King ample time to give the BirdieSisters a history lesson.  Though this year’s team did not medal, after a wonderful lunch and awards ceramony the BirdieSisters won the raffle.  The BirdieSisters were as impressed with Mr. King as he was with them.  They formed an instant bond.  On the way home, the BirdieSisters shared all the history lessons they had learned from Mr. King.  Priceless!  Youth and Seniors — what a powerful combination!  We are honored to have met Mr. King and thankful for his wisdom.

Thanks so much  to Mr. Ray Scudder and staff for another wonderful outing and we look forward to participating next year.   We encourage others in the Chicago area to particiapate in this great event that pairs disabled and non-disabled golfers together for a day of motivation, learning and fun!

Scheduling for August

This year’s junior golf season in the Midwest is winding down.  Here’s what’s going on in August:

August 6-8 — US Kids World Championships, Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, NC

August 12th — Illinois Junior Golf Association YDP (10-11) Geneva Invitational in Geneva, IL

August 13th — US Kids Local Tour Championships, Balmoral Woods Golf Course in Crete, IL

August 17th – Bob-O-Links Championships, Jackson Park Golf Course in Chicago, IL

August 22nd – Rehab Motivators tournament, South Shore Golf Course in Chicago, IL

August 29th-30th – Mid-American Junior Golf Tour event #3, Bonnie Brook Golf Course in Waukegan, IL

The BirdieSisters will also attend some portion of the Solheim Cup Tour events in Sugar Grove, IL during the week of August 17th.  The Solheim Cup is one of the most prestigious Women’s Professional Golf Tours in the world.

Taller Than A Tree Shorter Than A Driver

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).