Patty Ellis – Page 4 – Golfer Tales

Then Vs. Now

I was very sad to learn that Louise Suggs passed away on Friday. I’ve been a fan of the LPGA since I started playing golf and Ms. Suggs’ legacy, as a feisty competitor and quick-witted personality, is legendary. But it’s not her golf I’ll miss – there’s great golf today – it’s her personality. Players today just don’t seem to have the same spontaneity and, well, fun.

Ms. Suggs once said: “Golf is very much like a love affair – if you don’t take it seriously, it’s no fun. But if you do, it breaks your heart.” Today’s LPGA players are great, but I just can’t picture any of them saying something like this.

Maybe today’s players are just products of their times. They seem to be unable to take golf seriously AND have fun. They have “peeps” that manage them, they […]

Then Vs. NowPatty Ellis2019-04-28T11:13:46-04:00

This is What I’m Talking About!

If you read my blog post titled Then Vs. Now, you know I miss the lack of spontaneity, authenticity and even enjoyment shown by today’s professional golfers. Did you happen to catch Roberta Vinci beating Serena Williams today? I know that was a tennis match and this is a golf blog, but Vinci’s post-match interview was everything I love about sports and athletes. http://espn.go.com/

Serena Williams was on a path to make tennis history and seemed unbeatable. Then Roberta Vinci, not even ranked and against all odds, beat her.

The victory itself was incredible, but the way Vinci dealt with it was just as impressive. I can’t remember seeing as much pure joy, spontaneity and authenticity in an athlete as I did today.

First off, she said the unthinkable. She apologized. Yes, you read that right, SHE APOLOGIZED. She actually had […]

This is What I’m Talking About!Patty Ellis2023-08-22T14:16:04-04:00

“Friendly” Matches

They’re called “friendly” matches but they’re not always so friendly.

I was playing a match with Barbara as my teammate against Beth and Ann. It was all square (tied) until I won the 4^th hole by shooting a 5 when the three of them all shot sixes. But Beth said she shot a 5, too.

Uh oh – there was no question she shot a 6.

In the most non-confrontational way I could muster, I asked, “Beth, are you sure you shot a 5?” Apparently, she didn’t like being second-guessed. “Yes”, she fired back. “I shot a 5!”

CROSSROADS! Do I let it go or do I pursue it?

Maybe you’re like me – I have two little women who stand, one on each shoulder, telling me what to do:

Left-shoulder woman: You won the hole fair and square, Patty, don’t let her intimidate […]

“Friendly” MatchesPatty Ellis2025-05-29T12:33:56-04:00

It’s a Bird, it’s a Plane, it’s…

My all-time favorite golf story – I hope my writing does it justice. And note: names have been changed to protect the guilty – you know who you are.

Bob, two other friends and I were on the 18^th hole of the Blue Course at Bethpage State Park. Bob had a difficult 50-yard approach shot up a hill and over a very steep greenside bunker. But Bob has a great short game. Confidently, he looked up at the green, then back at the ball. Again, up at the green, back at the ball. Then one last time up at the green, and there it was…

A car! And no small Toyota or Honda – it was a huge 1970s Impala, or something like that. And it was coming over the hill and down the cart path straight at Bob.

It all happened so fast. […]

It’s a Bird, it’s a Plane, it’s…Patty Ellis2021-10-29T20:04:34-04:00

The Lexi Thompson Controversy: I’m stunned

The Lexi Thompson controversy is shocking to me.

It was a pretty big golf story so I’m guessing you heard about it: after marking her ball, Thompson replaced it in a different spot. The LPGA was alerted to the infraction by a TV viewer a day after it happened. LPGA Rules Officials reviewed the video tape and ended up assessing a heavy penalty which cost Thompson the coveted championship.

I was at the course when the news broke. Fans were outraged at LPGA Rules officials. People were screaming, “They screwed her,” and “They stole this from her!” Given their reaction, I wondered if Thompson had replaced her ball just a blade of grass from the correct spot and some viewer, some trigonometry buff using signs and cosigns, had calculated a 1/100^th of an inch breach.

As Warner Wolf used to say… let’s go to […]

The Lexi Thompson Controversy: I’m stunnedPatty Ellis2023-08-22T14:16:43-04:00

Tribute to Dad

This Sunday will be my first Father’s Day without my dad.

Throughout my childhood, playing and watching sports was the way I connected with my dad. Maybe that’s why all 50 times I’ve watched the last scene of Field of Dreams, I’ve cried when Kevin Costner says “Hey dad, want to have a catch?”

When I was six years old – this is 1963 — I asked my dad why we rooted for the Mets instead of the Yankees. The Mets were abysmal while the Yankees were a legend, and it seemed everyone else rooted for the “right” team. How could we be so wrong? My father’s answer: “Because, dear, we root for the underdogs.”

Look, there’s nothing wrong with rooting for winners… if the Mets ever became perennial winners, I’d be ecstatic. But there’s something special about […]

Tribute to DadPatty Ellis2019-04-28T10:29:40-04:00

I’m Not Kicking the Bucket Bucket List – Torrey Pines

I’ve had a golf course Bucket List for 15 years… and over the past year, amazingly enough, I’ve played all top four courses on it. God, pay no attention to this, I’m not ready to kick the bucket.

Rebecca said, “Do you want to go to San Diego to play one of your bucket list courses, Torrey Pines?” Actually, what she said was, “I have a conference in San Diego.” Interesting how my hearing can do that sometimes.

So, off to San Diego I went to play Torrey… er, I mean keep Rebecca company on her trip. Unbelievably, her conference was at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines! Helloooooo serendipity.

I played 5 rounds in 3 days and it was even more beautiful than I’d dreamed: the Pacific Ocean, seaside cliffs and most of all, the pines. Torrey Pines are the rarest pine […]

I’m Not Kicking the Bucket Bucket List – Torrey PinesPatty Ellis2019-04-28T10:42:38-04:00

I’m Not Kicking the Bucket Bucket List – The Dinah Shore

This is the second blog in a series of four about playing all my top Bucket List courses in 2015.

The Dinah Shore Course at Mission Hills, Palm Springs, CA.

I don’t know if there’s a golf tournament I love as much as the LPGA ANA Inspiration, once known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship, once known as the Nabisco Dinah Shore, once known as, well, many other names. But it’ll always be The Dinah to me.

Oh wait, it has one other name. About 25 years ago some entrepreneurs created an annual lesbian weekend extravaganza in Palm Springs to coincide with the tournament. Every year, tens of thousands of lesbians attend pool parties, events and shows during The Dinah weekend. So, many attendees know it by its nickname: The Vagina Shore.

Younger people may know about the tournament, but not so much about […]

I’m Not Kicking the Bucket Bucket List – The Dinah ShorePatty Ellis2019-04-28T10:45:53-04:00

I’m Not Kicking the Bucket Bucket List – Pebble Beach

In a bizarre coincidence, I played all four of my top Bucket List courses in 2015. This is Part 3 in the series “I’m Not Kicking the Bucket Bucket List.”

Sandra had a milestone birthday – her 30th. Not! But she’d kill me if I gave her real age. So she, some great golfing friends and I went to her #1 (and my #3) Bucket List course, Pebble Beach.

Sandra and I roomed together. Remember The Odd Couple? She would spend 20 minutes doing her hair, I’d put on a baseball cap. She would try on three different outfits, I’d remember to wear a belt. She showered before AND after golf. Are you kidding me?

Sandra was the best roommate, I was the worst. On the first day of our 5-day trip, I pulled out my back. And if enduring back pain […]

I’m Not Kicking the Bucket Bucket List – Pebble BeachPatty Ellis2019-04-28T10:48:40-04:00

I’m Not Kicking the Bucket Bucket List – The Ultimate

It’s like loving outer space and being chosen to fly in a rocket ship to Mars.

It’s like being a hiker and reaching the top of Mount Everest.

It’s like winning the Super Bowl – not as a fan, AS THE QUARTERBACK!

[…]

I’m Not Kicking the Bucket Bucket List – The UltimatePatty Ellis2019-04-28T10:38:05-04:00

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