April 13, 2010

Kraft Nabisco Championship!

My first duties as Captain of the 2011 Solheim Cup was to visit the Kraft Nabisco Championship out in Palm Springs, California.  I know, tough duty for me as I strolled around the lush flower and palm tree laden grounds of Mission Hills CC watching the U.S. Players qualified to be there for the first Major Championship of the year. 

Since my retirement in 2006 I haven't had the luxury of knowing all the players personally from a player's point of view, so it's important for me to get out there and reconnect with the ones I have played with and get to know those new American additions to the tour who I have not known.  Of course watching them on TV keeps me in tune with how they are playing, but watching them in person really allows you to see their personality and style of play which will be important for me to know in the next several months. 

While I was there I spent a lot of time on the course watching almost every U.S. born player at least for a few holes during the Pro-Am and then again in competition as the tournament got under way.  I felt like I was watching Brittany Lincicome and Michelle Wie play a different golf course from the one I played all those years as I watched their long tee shots on the par 4's and par 5's.  I also watched veterans Michelle Redman, Pat Hurst, and Sherri Steinhauer, who all made the cut, and Angela Stanford, Brittany Lang, Morgan Pressel, Kristie McPhearson and Cristie Kerr, who all had good finishes, Cristie leading the pack at Tied for 5^th, each of them picking up double Solheim Cup points at the major.  Stacy Lewis, second year pro from Arkansas had a good showing making points and young pro Vicky Hurst shot her way into contention going into the weekend. 

Another great source of information for me on the course was the support group following these players including parents, spouses and teachers.  Getting to know them through those eyes are just as important to me as watching them play as I get figure out over the next several months just how we as a team will go into this competition.

Also out on the course were several former Solheim Cup Captains Judy Rankin, Beth Daniel, and Betsy King, whose information and experiences will be invaluable for me to tap into as I continue my adventure towards Ireland.  And while getting some Solheim stories from Judy Rankin's husband Yippy, Paul Azinger walked up (he was there commentating for CBS) and I was able to get into his head for a while to ask questions about his triumphs as Captain of the Ryder Cup. 

Later in the week, I met with the Ireland group hosting the 2011 Competition at Killeen Castle and was able to borrow the Waterford Solheim Cup Trophy for just a moment to take some Pictures with it in my hand.  Now that, I could get use to!

All in all it was a great week for me and I look forward to my next tour stop.  Stay tuned to May 13 -16 at the Bell Micro in Mobile Alabama where I will be announcing my two Assistant Solheim Cup Captains.

Untill then,  Relax but Attack!  Go USA! 

Captain Rojo!  

OK, so it's been about one month since the initial call from the Mike Whan, Commissioner of the LPGA and two weeks since the official announcement of my role as Captain of the 2011 Solheim Cup Captain!  Wow!  That's exciting and a big change for what my life has been like the past couple of years.  Just when I was getting a little bit detached from the tour as a player and getting use to the idea of life off the tour, this comes knocking on my door like a big bunch of colorfull balloons.  Nice!

The day of the announcement, February 24th, the LPGA had orchestrated the sequence of several phone interviews that were scheduled through out the day.  I was up early and ready to go around 7:30 am as we were finalizing our RosieJones.com and Face Book announcements and Newsletter distribution.  I knew that the U.S. players over in Singapore were meeting for the tournament party where they would be the first to learn that I would be their 2011 Solheim Cup Captain. 

First to happen was another Call from Mike Whan telling me congratulations again, and that the official announcement would be happening with in the next hour since the players would be informed with in minutes of this call.  With that said, it was only moments later that I had my first Text message from Cristie Kerr saying Congrats partner, (I was her first partner at Interlochen, Minnesota 2002 where we beat L. Davies and P. Marti in Fourball) which started the barage of emails, facebook, text messages and phone calls from players, friends, family and almost every person I know, that lasted well over 2 days congratulating me for the appointment.  Whew!  That was maybe the most exciting and power charged couple of days I had ever experienced, and I loved every minute of it.  Thank God for computers, email, facebook, and cell phones. 

Where was all that social technology when I was playing the Tour those 25 years?  It sure makes winning tournaments much more fun for you and your friends, associates, family when they have easy access and are only a mere finger touch from the inner loop.  A lot of fun and I'm so very gratefull for all the attention and your well wishes. 

After that, my first order of business has been to get in touch with several potential U.S. Players saying Hello from their new Captain!  That and getting my feet wet by starting the process of picking my 2 Solheim Cup Assistant Captains.  Lots of people have asked me who those might be, but I know that this decision is going to take some time and there is a lot to consider as I go forward with the process.  Look at Corey Pavin, U.S. Captain for this year's Ryder Cup, just picked his four assistants last month, only 5-6 months away from the event.

My first personal contact with the U.S. players will be at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, (April 1 - 4)  where I will be there for my in the flesh Solheim Cup Captain announcement and press conference.  I plan to visit the LPGA tour several times this year which will give me the chance to touch base with most of the 2009 Solheim Cup team, as well as many other important U.S. players who are in the race to Ireland 2011.   I look forward to reconnecting with those players I played with during my day as well as many young Americans new to the tour since my retirement from the LPGA in 2006. 

 I love the Kraft, aka The Dinah Shore and it's a great time to be in Palm Springs, CA. so this will be a very welcome trip as I get out and start my road to the Solheim Cup on my first official trip as the Captain.  Very proud, very excited! 

Until next time,  Relax but Attack!  Go USA!

2-10-2010

Getting the Call for Captain!

It was turning out to be some what of a gloomy day, (we have had many of those this winter) as I was sitting in my office perched in the loft of my house, when my phone rang.  Not recognizing the number, I chose to ignore the call as I was reminiscing about my mother and how she would be turning 80 that day. 

A minute later I picked up the message, it was the new commissioner of the LPGA Mike Whan.  "If I could call him back he would love to talk to me."

I remember talking to Betsy King (2007 Solheim Cup Captain) last November on the range at our Legends Tour Championship and how her call to the Captainship came from out of the blue with out any forewarning.  And even knowing that, I had no idea that this would be his reason for calling me.

 Carrie my partner walked into my office, I mentioned who it was and she insisted I call him back.  She knew the ring of truth.  Me, I was oblivious, but she insisted again that I call him right back.   She was encouraging me to make myself available to the LPGA as I have the past couple of years.  Call him let him know you are there for the LPGA, want to be an ambassador, ready to help in any way.

So I did and when the conversation led to the Solheim Cup, I still was not thinking that he would be blurting out those words.  "We would like you to be the 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup Captain."  I was so flabbergasted; I asked him if he had just said what I thought he said.  And he said yes, you are the next U.S. Solheim Cup Captain!

Like a movie, It couldn't of been any more perfect as I sat there amongst all of my Solheim Cup memorabilia, bags, trophy's and photos.  All the reminders of previous Solheim's and the passion that goes with them surrounding me as my eye catches a picture of me and Patty Sheehan on our first match together at Lake Nona Fl.  The site of the First Solheim Cup in 1990.

Now, the magnitude of what he was saying overwhelmed me as I walked around the room, my voice escalating, my mind reeling, and yes a little nervous thinking about the next two years and what that means to me. 

Being the 2011 Captain marks a new dimension for me and I look forward to the experience with as much motivation, zest, and excitement as I did as a player."I couldn't be more proud to represent the United States and to lead the U.S. Team to Ireland next year to retain the Cup. 

The Call ended with a lot of thank yous, and I sat there for a minute just taking in the moment.  I had a lot to be thankful for.  This is going to be a great experience and great fun as I start to plot my course over the next 19 months.  I know there were several fantastic players out there that were in the running for the 2011 Solheim Cup Captain and I am honored and humbled by their belief and choice in me.

Until next time,

              Relax but Attack

Hey Everybody,  Just when you think golf can't get any more exciting than this years US Open, Blam!  Welcome to the 2009 Solheim Cup!  This year I was there wearing two different hats.  One, RosieJones Golf Getaways hosted The Dinner at The Captains Table, where we celebrated the history of The Solheim Cup with special guests The Past Solheim Cup Captains, and two I was asked by Sky TV to commentate on thier show giving an American point of view to all of Europe.  Both were very exciting and very rewarding as we capped the week off with a win from the Americans led by Captain Beth Daniel.

My week started off getting to know my work mates on the show.  All very distinguished commentators in their homeland including one of the Past Captains Mickey Walker.  It was really fun to ride around the course talking about different players as well as getting her point of view on how the underdog Europe was going to fare this Solheim Cup.  I remember several of my practice rounds as a player in my 7 Solheim Cups, and never remember this many people, but the crowds were huge as they were all trying to get an early peek at Michele Wie and stand out Christina Kim.   Both were hamming it up as I stormed the fairway with pictures to get signed for our Auction to be held during our dinner on Saturday night.  And they brought in some big money, Wow!

Commentating was fun when I wasn't being thrown under the bus by our lead talent asking questions like, I guess the squabble between Michele Wie and Morgan Pressel are ok this week since they are on the same team and staying in the same lodge?  Or, What is Kristy Kerr like, word is she doesn't get along with many girls on the team?  Stuff like that, which I handled I very well I thought.  Some warning would of been nice though!

Our Dinner at The Captains Table was a big hit, and alot of people who had attended thought it was the Highlight of the week.  Hearing that knowing all the fun to be had at Solheim gave us a big smile especially hearing it from one of our Special Guests; Acting Commissioner, US Navy Admiral Marty Evans who spoke during the event.  Also, in attendance was Alan and Joan Solheim; son of the late founder of Ping Karsten Solheim and founder of this competition. We had many others, a few former players like Judy Dickenson, Hollis Stacey, Val Skinner, and Golf Digest editor Stina Steinberg. 

 But the main attraction was our past Solheim Cup Captains as they marched to the Bag Piper into the room full of 280 fully charged guests as they whooped and hollered for the Captains as they paraded past their table.  Later as I introduced each captain we threw in a twist to the show and played a special song picked out specifically for each personality.

 We started with Betsy King and as she is known for her charitable contributions around the world, we played JOY TO THE WORLD!  Nancy Lopez, and you know Nancy SHE'S A LADY!  Patty Sheehan: always the show girl! GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN!  Dale Reid: I AM WOMAN!  Judy Rankin: World renowned commentator,  YOU SHOULD HEAR HOW SHE TALKS ABOUT YOU!   Pia Nielsen: From Sweden, MAMMA MIA!  JoAnne Carner: Known on Tour as Big Mamma!  YOUR MOMMA DON'T DANCE, Pat Bradley: Who's mother rang the cow bell after each win,  RING MY BELL!  Mickey Walker:  MICKEY, MICKEY YOUR SO FINE!   Alice Miller:YOUR A SHINING STAR!  and Kathy Whitworth:  Winner of the most tournaments ever (88) YOUR SIMPLY THE BEST!

And did they ever ham it up.  The had a blast and let it show as they danced their way up to the stage, clapping their hands and hugging each other in celebration of each other. It was really great to see them all up there on the same stage having fun and just being together again.  What a list of talent and maybe the most celebrated players ever to be in the same room together.  It was a great night and we finished off with some great questions and stories from the Captains about their experience at the helm. 

 The best thing about the night was raising money for the Charities The LPGA * USGA Girls Golf and The 7th Annual Golf Channels Invitational for the First Tee.  We did really well at our Silent and Live auction bringing in just over $21,000.  What a night! 

I can't wait for the next one.  Take care,  Rj

Driving up to Saucon Valley, just outside of Bethlehem PA, site of the 2009 Women's US Open for the first time today gave me that good ol feeling I remember from US Opens past.  Of course I have a lot of those memories banked up as I counted last week 25 past US Opens for me.  But this one is special, being my first time to qualify for an Open 3 years after my retirement. 

As Carrie and I pulled up to the course, it was fun to see this beautiful country club and course layout with the players dotted around the course, the volunteers busy at their posts, and the Caddies tending to their players.  Of course I am already checking out how high the rough is, how narrow the fairways are and what do the approaches to the greens look like. 

It didn't take long for us to find out, for our first job of the week was to get out there and walk the course and check out the yardages and greens.  I always like to make a point to draw out each green so that I know exactly where the breaks are and how do I approach the green from the fairway in order to get the ball close.  Carrie and I set out late this afternoon with just 3 clubs in our hands and a lot of motivation. 

Soon enough I bumped into a lot of my old friends from tour, Meg Mellon, Julie Inkster, Terry McNamara (Annika's old caddy) Pat Hurst and several other players and caddies and after the initial excitement of being back and the questions of my qualifying, the topic turned to how long the course is playing.  Remember, these are people who don't usually complain about that part of the game, so if it's long for them, then it must be long.  Me, as we know haven't gotten any longer in the past three years, so we got some work to do. 

The course is beautiful, did I mention that.  That's what so great about playing in the Open, you will play or see some of the most wonderful golf courses in the country.  This, my first time to Saucon Valley, I haven't been disappointed in the tight tree lined fairways, with very undulated greens that will give even the best of golfers a hard time this week.  The fairways are like carpet with hardly a divot to see, and the greens are like  roller coasters  with out the safety bar down.  This will be fun, if not a little scary. 

I'll keep you posted.  Take care,  Rj

Check out more blogs from Carrie and I about the Women's US Open on www.thelegendstour.com   

I'm not sure how I did it, but I did!  I qualified for The Women's US Open next month to be played in Bethlehem PA.   Wow! 

After 25 years on tour, and being qualified for the US Open from my status that entire time, this was my first US Open Qualifier since I was 22 years old just out of college!

 I guess I wasn't sure if I still had it in me, but somehow all the things I needed came to me when I needed them yesterday.  All of us (40 other gals, a of college kids, a couple of older pro's like me, and high school players)  teed it up at Carolina Trace in NC.  I started out pretty shaky but hung in there with some putts for birdie and finished the morning round with the low round of 2 under 70.  Yippy, Ok, I'm thinking, this is good.  Now, if I can just keep it up on the afternoon round.  Walking 36 holes on the hilly course in 90 degree temps was difficult, made even worse when dealing with swing issues off the tee, but once I figured that out I started to hit more greens. 

In the end, I finished 3rd behind two young gals who were super excited to be playing in their first US Open!  Me, I'm wondering again,  What was I thinking!  After 2 1/2 years of retirement, I know what is ahead of me at the most grueling test of golf any player has ever seen.  I never did hit the ball very far, and after my retirement, I haven't gotten any longer.  But it's the open and I look forward to the event.  I guess that's what makes it so important. 

 Anyways,  here we go, off to the Open for one more go for the Rosie!  I know it's not realistic for me to think of winning this major championship, but it will be a lot of fun to be out there and promote senior women's golf!   

 Wish me luck again!  

  Rosie  

Hey every die hard golfer out there. 

 What was I thinking when I decided, oh well, what the heck, let's sign up for the US Open Qualifier.  Yep, that's where I am in mid North Carolina some where at Carolina Trace, Sanford, NC teeing up with 4o other gals, most of them high school and college kids looking for a spot at the US Open.

 It didn't take long for me to realize why I retired from the tour 3 years ago when I teed it up with a couple of great US home grown kids (Natalie Reeves & Haley Stephens & Margaret Shirley) in my practice round today.   Wow, not only did they hit the ball  really far, but they were very well mannered and handled themselves very well.  I was never a big ball hitter, no surprise to anyone, and I haven't gotten longer in my 3 years away from the tour.  so you can imagine what it is like for me, watching these young chicks hitting the ball harder than I could ever imagine. 

 They were great kids and I heard my share of Yes Mam!  Now, I know Im old, but it was great and I enjoyed every minute. 

What a great way to see the new and upcoming talent that is on their way either to college or the LPGA Tour in the next couple of years.  But tomorrow is all business and I look forward to the challenge. 

There is no way to know what is in store for me as I get ready to go to bed and prepare for a Qualifying round.  It has been since 1983 that I had to last qualify for this particular event, and I wonder again,  What Was I Thinking? 

Wish me luck!

Rosie

May 26, 2009

 The Final Curtain at the Corning Classic!

I was up in Corning last week to share the sweet sorrow feelings with other LPGA players and fans as the Corning Classic hosted it's last of 31 years of competition.

Given the opportunity to play in the Tuesday Shoot Out, it was fun to banter with my fellow past tour players and past Corning Classic Champions as we goofed around during the skills test with our high school super star partners.  Alex and I finished with a fantastic 2^ndplace finish beating out (Princess of Corning) Laura Diaz in a chip off.

Wednesday I was invited to participate in the Bill Griffiths' Pro-Am where I enjoyed maybe my best pro-am ever in 25 years on tour.  I was able to grab a cart anddrive around as I pleased stopping to meet and greet various teams and favorite pro's as they played in what may be the last Corning Classic Pro Am in History.   Not to mention give a few helpful tips from the Queen.

We watched as Laura Davies come out of her shoes trying to hit the 6^thhole dog leg par 4 on her drive, and not to brag, but I was able beat out Michele Wieat closest to the hole from 95 yards out on #13.  My favorite Number.  I told her she could leave that $1 in my locker forever stationed in the Locker Room labeled The Queen of Corning!

It was hard to pack up my clubs for the final time leaving Corning after all these years.  The tournament having been an icon on the LPGA tour was one of our favorites and true to their style they celebrated like no tomorrow the entire week.  It's hard to explain how much we players and the LPGA tour will miss this event and the loyalty of our fans from the Corning and upper NY area. 

Maybe someday, we will be back again.  Of course selfishly I think a Legends Tour event would be a great fit.  Bring us back Corning!

We love you Corning!

Well, it was another great trip back to New Mexico last week where Nancy Lopez and I were able to hold off the newcomer Alena Sharp and Christie Albers and defend our title at the New Mexico Shoot Out.  It was great fun for all of us players to get together at the Sierra Del Sol Golf Course at the Turtle Back Mountain Resort in Elephant Butte, NM. 

Once again, Nancy and I brought it down to the final hole where I was lucky enough to hit the 30 yard pitch a couple feet away from the hole.  Good enough to hold off the youngsters giving Nancy and I the opportunity to hoist the trophy one more time. 

Alena (Canada), the only player in the event who actually plays the LPGA full time is a New Mexico State Univ. Alumni, and Christie Albers was a NM University Grad who has recently retired from the LPGA tour to stay home with her family and started up a first tee program in El Paso where she lives. 

Nancy and I, both native New Mexicans had a great time teaming up for the second time in as many years, and we both were able to hit some good shots here and there to give Team Zia a run for the money.  All the proceeds went to the Local Charity's in the Elephant Butte area, but the thrill of competition still lurks in these ol gals eyes. 

LPGA Legend Kathy Whitworth also from New Mexico made a special appearance to give the morning clinic, where she showed off her talent that brought her home 88 wins over her career.  It was great to be around Kathy, as well as all the girls and play for our NM Fans.  In all the years (25) that I played on the LPGA, the tour never found a tour spot in New Mexico, so having the opportunity to play for those fans, friends and family was special. 

Scotland Getaway!

How do I explain to all of you what a great trip we had as we trudged happily up and down the wispy hills of Scotland playing one memorable golf course after another?  Our first part of our trip was based in Edinburgh where we played 2 Fantastic Golf courses, toured the town with our very own Scottish guide Kathryn Imrie and visited one of  the Mid Evil Castles of Scotland, The Tantallon.  Kathryn was with us for the first two days and gave our gals a first hand look at some of Scotland's history, food, Liquors and golf.

Our next stage of the trip was a 2 hour bus trip up the North East Coast to the small village of St. Andrews, The Home of Golf where our bus driver gallantly drove us onto and through the 18^th and 1^st holes of the Old Course as to announce our arrival.

For more of our Scotland Getaway please visit Rosie's Blog After a quick tour of the town we were dropped off at our accommodations The Russacks hotel where we all met in the bar overlooking those very same fairways we just crossed in the Bus. 

The next 4 days were fun and filled with great golf and memorable moments on and off  several of those famous courses we have all watched from TV.  We did give up one of our Mid Evil Castle Tours to have the opportunity to play the Old Course as we submitted our names to the Starters of the R & A for a ballot or lottery chance to play.  All 9 of us somehow got on the course that day and our Gals were both nervous and ecstatic to be playing on the sacred grounds of St. Andrews.

This trip wasn't just about playing golf but the experience of being in this uncorrupted piece of the earth where golf was founded including the history and folklore that shrouds the tiny village shops and Cathedral that dates back all the way to 1100.  The surprises kept coming while we enjoyed more golf including playing at the 2007's British Open course Carnoustie or (Carnastie as Lana described it), St, Andrews Jubilee (only 120 years old) and a very recently built course (10 years)  KingsBarn Golf Course where the views where unbelievable. 

This trip is a must and we here at RosieJones Golf Getaways are already in the process of planning next years return.

More to come about our Scotland Trip.  Stay Tuned. 

Take Care,  Rosie

I know you all are wondering how the week went for me up in beautiful town of Corning NY last week.  Yes, I went to Corning to help Celebrate their 30^th Year Anniversary and it was an action packed week of social events, and oh yea I played a couple of rounds of golf with the girls too.  Not great, but we had a lot of fun as I teed it up with Meg Mallon and Sherri Steinhauer in the first two rounds of the LPGA Corning Classic!  Yes, that means I missed the cut with scores of 74 & 76.

No surprises, it rained the first 3 days we were there, but we managed to get in some what of a practice round, as well as a 2^nd place finish in the skills test with my partner, a very niche young local golf star.  I also recieved a beautiful piece of Steuben Glass as The Queen of Corning Award at a special dinner for most popular player ever, and a quick 4 minute 45 second 6 hole relay against Meg Mallon's team, who happened to beat us by a mere 17 seconds.  Poo!  Next year, what? I mean, Next time, we will know the ropes and have all the cheating ways down.  Yikes! Cheat in golf!  Only in the relay.  Let me explain.

Abbreviated down to only 6 holes from the original 9, we placed as many girls as par on each hole to relay a ball from the first tee all the way to the final hole.  Yes, think about it, as Soo-Yun Kang tees it off the first hole while another player (even squinting I don't recognize her) is waiting in the fairway to receive the ball and send it up to the green.  Once there, another player is planted just in case to chip and yet another player to putt, drag, whatever the ball into the hole.  Heave Ho to the Tee Box and so on!

The Rules are anything goes except you have to tee it off and putt it in.  Drop a ball, foot wedge, throw it, whatever you have to do to get the ball around as fast as possible.  Of course, my team wasn't as experienced as Meg's as we played our 6 holes with a fraction  more honesty until we finally got the ball back to me, where I gave it a cricket smack from 10 yards off the green.  It looks as though I won the tournament in this picture here showing Soo-Yun pulling the flag just in time to see the ball go in.  Just a little Corning excitement that looked a little too familiar.  Ha Ha!  

Nice to know I can still jump when the mood strikes! 

Congratulations go to Leta Lindley and her husband/caddie Matt for their first LPGA Win on tour as Leta beat Joeng Jang in a Sudden Death Playoff to take the titile there at the 2008 Corning Classic.  Way to go Leta! 

All for now, take care,  Relax but Attack!

 Rosie  (TQC)

The Queen of Corning

The Corning Classic is much like the 2 other longest running events on Tour, The LPGA State Farm in Springfield IL, and The Wegmans LPGA in Rochester NY.  All three of these events are super special to me.  My first win was in Springfield in 1987 when the tournament was called The Rail, and I have two wins each at both the Wegmans event and back to back wins in Corning.  Of course in all those years I played there at Corning I was able to rack up several Top 10's to go with those wins, making me the most celebrated player to ever play the event.  Which gives me the title Queen of Corning!

 But, that's not why Corning is Special to me!

The Corning Classic we have always called it is one of those tournament set in a very small town in the Upper part of New York State.  It really is one of those Norman Rockwell towns with the old fashioned Market Street, with quaint shops and restaurants that invite you in for a bite of food or cold drink.  The town folk as well as the shop keepers get very excited for the LPGA to come to town and have fun with their window display competition using golf themes and decorations.  As a player, you are drawn to the excitement of the town with as much enthusiasm as you are to play the event.  You can even find an LPGA scoreboard in the Market St. Courtyard to keep the shoppers abreast to the action on the course.  But that's not why Corning is Special to me!

It was in 1986 while at the Corning Classic, I received one of those dreaded phone calls, back when our only thread to family and friends was the phone in the Hotel Room.  It was 4:00 am and I was informed that my youngest brother Jerry Lee Jones was killed in a car accident.  Devastated at loosing my closest sibling, I packed up my things to go home.  On the way to the very small airport in nearby Elmira, NY, I stopped at the tournament site to inform the LPGA Officials of my loss and that I would have to withdraw from the golf event.   I was catching a plane to Albuquerque, via Pittsburg, Dallas and then finally by night fall I would get home.  By the time I got myself to the Elmira Airport, the Tournament Director of The Corning Classic, Lee Robbins met me in the parking lot of the Rental Cars.   He told me that they had the Corning Jet ready to escort me to Cincinnati where I could then pick up my sister and fly home together on a much faster route.  There I was 5 minutes later on a Lear Jet flying to an airport close to my sister's house so we could comfort each other on the rest of the trip.

From that day forward I never missed another Corning Classic.  I will always cherish the kindness they shed on me that horrible day.  And from my love of Corning came many great memories, trophies and friends, whom I still hold close to my heart.  And that is why Corning is Special To Me! Thanks Corning!

 Rosie Jones,  TQC

What's to miss of those 25 years of travel schedules, including thousands of Airports, Car Rentals, Hotels, and Restaurants. Actually, those aspects I do not miss, nor those early mornings on the dewy range in cold tempetures getting ready for that early tee time, or late afternoons on the putting green looking for that groove that worked so well last week.

But, what I do miss about those moments were the camaraderie we players would have on those early mornings, telling jokes, singing, cutting up on each other. In some ways the tour was like a big family, a circus of talent and each week we were at a new venue. Lots of fun, and not always as glamorous as you might think.

Of course I miss that competitive drive I had to maintain to be one of the best women golfers in the world and to be out there in that competition playing with a passion that defined my character. I miss that. I miss having that satisfaction at the end of the day that I played my best, and that my hard work has paid off.

Now, I reminisce over shots I have hit over the years and I cherish those memories that are etched into my mind. My time on tour was special and for me, and I played my hardest every day that I teed it up. Now I'm done and I'm proud of those rounds I played, the people I played with, and the fans I played for.

 Thanks for being my Fan!

Rosie

Hey Everyone and Welcome to my Blog here at RosieJones.com

 This has been my first attempt at writing and now that Im finally writing I really don't know what to say!

We are getting ready around here to head out to Palm Springs later this month, so that means Im out there every day on the course trying to get this ol body of mine to cooperate with the schedule and hit those ball out there where I want them to go. 

 Yes, just like you, I have to start the whole Spring time regiment where I first start hitting balls, slowly (with a wedge) that is not to hurt anything, graduating to a 6 iron then a 7 wood and finally with a couple of oohs and ahs from my back, Im hittin my driver out there right where I always do. 

The tricky part of laying off the game for a couple of months is getting that rythem back, and feeling some sort of consistancy with in your swing.  That and to sharpen up those inside  6 foot putts, and well, the rest of your short game.  Really, in no time it should all come together just as you left it.  Yea,  Right, and don't I know it.  Golf is a funny game and you have to just laugh when you pick it back up because just like Tiger says,  First day is great, second day a little off, third day is sensless, fouth day I feel like a beginner and by the end of the week, totally messed up and need a teacher.  It is hard for all of us so don't panick.  I'm telling myself not you.  But you too!

Anyways,  Golf is Great and keep plugging away at it. 

Relax but attack,  Rj