I am a golfer. I have a 4 handicap. To some golfers that would look good on the tee sheet. They would like to play with a low handicapper. Until I check in and the guys see that they are paired with a woman.
Some guys have asked the pro shop–while I am standing there–to pair them up with someone else at an earlier time so they do not have to play with me or in the group behind me. The best story: After my golf coach and I checked in with the starter, we heard our playing partners telling the starter, “We are not playing with [her.]” I had never met these guys; they did not know me. I appreciated the starter telling them, “If you want to play this course at this time, you will.”
The first hole was a par 5. One guy made an 8, his buddy made 7, I made par. They shot 95 and 97 and I shot 75. But during the round, in the back of my mind I wanted to know: Why did these guys have this attitude toward me?
I don’t want to play on the men’s tour. I don’t want to be a member of Augusta National. I just want to be able to go to the golf course without the insults and comments. Golf is difficult enough. I would like to see Sorenstam do well at Colonial just to send the message that it is OK for women to play golf.
