We're Talking Golf World of Golf

Should I get my child into golf?  Or should I let them discover golf on their own?  How early is too early?  Or what should I do as a parent to support my child in golf?  

These are just some of the topics that renown golf teacher Michelle Holmes shares with us in this episode.  As golf grows in popularity throughout the world in places like the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, and Colombia among many others, one of the biggest areas of growth involves children and young people.   As more and more children are brought into the sport it means that parents need to play an active role in supporting their children as their children embark on the journey of golf.  

Some will join golf simply to play for fun, or to play with their friends who are learning the game too.  Others will play because their parents want them too -- and others still play the game, dreaming of being like Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko, or Lexi Thompson.  Perhaps its Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, or Jordan Speith that they admire.  Regardless, many parents are asking themselves how to best encourage and support their child as they take up this difficult, challenging, and extremely rewarding sport.  

You will want to listen in as Michelle Holmes shares her experiences in teaching and coaching children and parents in managing this journey. 

Join our special guest host, Cathy Kim, the Director of Golf for Baltimore Country Club as she interviews our guests from Gachon University based in Seoul, South Korea.   We go behind the scenes to learn how golf is different in Korea and how it has become such an important part of the culture.   As one guest  says about golf, it is more popular than religion in South Korea.   And one of the key differences is how they organize and teach golf at University in addition to the golf academies and golf courses.  

Our special guests for this episode include Jaewon Kwak, a senior professor with Gachon University.  She holds a PhD. in Physical Education with a specialization in Golf.  She also holds the enviable distinction of being the coach that introduced Rolex Women's World No.1 player, Jin Young Ko to golf, teaching her the fundamentals of golf and a solid golf swing foundation that has enabled her to become one of the best players in the world. 

Hyemin Kim is our other special guest and is an instructing professor with Gachon University in their golf program.  She is a former Epson tour player having played from 2012 through to 2019.  

Today, it may seem commonplace to see Thai payers competing for victory on the LPGA, but there was a time not too long ago when there was a single pioneer carrying the responsibility of representing Thailand on the LPGA.    Virada Nirapathpongporn, or Oui Virada,  was the first player from Thailand to achieve full time membership status on the LPGA.  

She relocated to Florida from her home in Bangkok to attend the Leadbetter - IMG Academy as a teenager.   From there, she moved into NCAA Division 1 golf with the Duke Blue Devils and never looked back.  In her sophomore year, she led the Blue Devils to the National Championship while winning the individual championship by 4-strokes over Arizona's Lorena Ochoa.  

From her unique vantage point as a pioneer of Thai golf, Oui Virada discusses how much Thai golf has grown and developed since she was a junior player.  She also discusses her own journey into professional golf and the responsibility of representing her home country on the world professional golf stage.  She also shares some great advice for parents and junior players who share the dream of wanting to go as far as they can in the sport.  

Research has shown  that playing golf has demonstrable benefits for people.  Whether it be improved quality of life, increased life expectancy, or improved mental health, golf has been a significant catalyst for people in realizing these benefits.  In today's episode, special guest host Cara Erdheim Kilgallen explores the topic of "Health, Wellness, and Golf" with Liesbeth Pauwels.   

For close to a decade, Liesbeth has been at the front of this movement that seeks to enrichen the lives of people through golf.   Combining her golf background with her educational background in Kinesiology (University of British Columbia), Liesbeth has founded LP Golf Performance, working with recreational players, and aspiring elite players teaching body movement, yoga, nutrition, and more.  

Cara Erdheim Kilgallen is a tenured professor of English at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut with a passion for golf and the nourishment that the sport provides whether it be mental, physical, or spiritual.  She is deeply interested in the democratization of golf as a sport for the masses.   She also is featured contributor with the World of Golf.

As part of an ongoing series featuring equipment and training, we introduce you to CTRL Golf (Control Golf) and their Swing Master.  It is a new training aid designed to help golfers improve their swing using some innovative and proprietary technology.    In this  Episode,  we are joined by Nick Bockenfeld, a PGA member, and Ryan Johnson a professional player, as they discuss the Swing Master, how it improves a golf swing, and how to incorporate it into a regular practice session.

The Solheim Cup is the single most important Cup competition in women's golf.  In this biennial competition, the United States women have competed against the best women from Europe since 1990.  The US hold a 10 - 7 advantage over their European counterparts, but the European team are the defending champions and will have "home field" advantage as the 2023 event will be hosted at Finca Cortesina Golf Club near Malaga, Spain.   

Stacy Lewis will captain the 2023 US Women's Team against Team Europe being captained by Suzann Petersen, the perennial nemesis of the American team.  Always an engaging and thoughtful person, Stacy discusses her preparations for the 2023 competition, her assistant captains, and her goals for the team, including of course, winning the Solheim Cup back for the United States.  

With the completion of the Chevron Championship at the Dinah Shore course at Mission Hills, it marked the end of an era as the venerated event moves to the greater Houston area for 2023.  As a past champion of the event and a leading figure in women's golf, Stacy shares her experience of playing at Mission Hills, what the event meant for the development of women's professional golf, and her thoughts on how the LPGA tour has evolved since her rookie year in 2009. 

Stacy is a former World No.1, she has won 13 times on tour, including 2-major championships.  She won the Vare Trophy twice, in 2013 and 2014,  The Vare trophy is awarded to the player with the season's lowest scoring average.  She also won the Rolex Player of the Year award twice in 2012 and 2014, while also winning the LPGA Money Title in 2014.