Paul Azinger and Dr. Ron Braund authored Cracking the Code: The Winning Ryder Cup Strategy:  Make It Work for You.  This book chronicles the plan of action PGA player Paul Azinger utilized to reach success when he was selected as captain of the 2008 Ryder Cup Team.  

Immediately apparent is Paul Azinger’s focus on the team winning the coveted Ryder Cup.  His descriptions are refreshing because he remains positive by not dwelling on the possibility of losing.  Rather, he devotes his full attention to developing and employing strategies to give the players every opportunity to win.

While the techniques identified and used by the team are interesting and successful in the end, my favorite stories involve how genuinely excited the PGA players were to represent their country in the prestigious Ryder Cup competition.  Learning that individual golf superstars were honored to be on the Ryder Cup team and willing to work with Azinger’s “pod” strategy for victory is inspiring.  

This easy read discusses management techniques, golf and love of country all in one book.  

While playing a round of golf with my dad, I provided the unexpected entertainment, which cost me bragging rights to that afternoon’s game.  What was so hilarious?  I hit my fairway shot into a tree; my ball vanished amongst the branches and never came out.  The selfish culprit pictured above is the actual tree that made my golf ball disappear.  

After I took the ill-fated shot, we shaded our eyes, scanned the air for almost thirty seconds and watched for the ball to drop.  Realizing that gravity had probably not weakened, I finally came back to reality and began circling the tree.  

“It had to have come back down.  Whose ball gets stuck in a tree?  This is unbelievable!” I muttered.  Even though I thought I had watched the ball closely, I never found it.  Giving up, I laughed wholeheartedly at my lack of luck.  My dad tried not to laugh, but his grin gave him away.  

Our golf round ended in a tie and I blame the stingy tree—not my ridiculously bad game!  
Has your women’s golf game experienced “bad luck?”  Click “comment” and tell us your story.  
My fairway shot literally stuck in a tree...just my luck!  

I enjoyed watching Paula Creamer win the 2010 U.S. Women's Open at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.  

The New York Times posted an article about Paula’s plans after winning this event.  I think you will enjoy this article .  

Congratulations Paula!

Happy Father's Day! 

Thank you for visiting blog.golfoutloud.com.  My name is Jodie Riggs and I am President & Publisher of Golf Out Loud, a lifestyle publications company.  I write and manage the editor’s blog for golfoutloud.com and serve as the executive editor for golfoutloud.com, a division of Golf Out Loud.

The success of the editor’s blog and golfoutloud.com is based on the women golfers who visit the sites.  Therefore, I want to disclose the financial relationships for myself, the editor’s blog and golfoutloud.com.

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I won’t tell you I love something that I do not, but I may suggest a product or service that I think you will like, even though I don’t like it for myself.  (For example, I have seen some really cute visors.  You might like them and I might suggest or highlight them.  However, you may not ever see me wearing a visor because I do not look good in any visor I have ever worn.)  

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President & Publisher
Golf Out Loud™

Since the days when I started learning to play golf, just the sight of a water hazard between me and the green meant trouble.  I am one of those people who loves to try the tough shots.  Hitting over water excites me, but somewhere in my subconscious it’s a jinx.  There is a very good chance my shot will end up in the drink!  I’m curious to find out if other lady golfers have what I am calling a “water hazard jinx”?  Do you have trouble seeing past the water?  Have you overcome a jinx?  Share your story with us.

Approximately three years ago I was hunting for my ball in an out-of-bounds wooded area.  I heard leaves rustling near where I was standing and discovered a black snake only a few feet away.  I made a break for the cart, amazed at how fast I can move when propelled by fear.  

There is no telling how many golf balls that encounter has cost me.  Numerous times I have left my errant golf balls in out-of-bounds areas to avoid any chance encounter with another snake.  Just recently I was walking along the edge of a wooded area to help my husband search for a lost golf ball.  The leaves near me jostled and I nearly jumped out of my golf shoes.  My husband had merely stepped on a branch hidden under the leaves.  I had to laugh at my near panic and thought to myself, “It was just a snake …it’s time to move on.”  

I think lady golfers throughout the United States are ready for spring.  You can feel the energy buzzing in clubhouses from state to state.  Finally…Spring!

March is designated as Women's History Month and I have included a link to the amazing achievements of Babe Didrikson Zaharias at babedidriksonzaharias.org.  After reading this list, I had to ask myself, "Is Babe Didrikson Zaharias the best female athlete of all time?" 

The USGA Museum website has a neat exhibit featuring American golf from 1894 to the present era.  I thought you might enjoy “Memorable Moments.”