The IX: Golf Thursday with Carly Grenfell, October 15, 2020
By The IX Team
Final words — First words — My favorite moments — Must-click-links in women's golf
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Final words
Today is a bittersweet day as this will be my final ‘Golf Thursday.’ I recently took a new job with the PGA TOUR as a Social Media Content Manager. This means my schedule will look a little different from here on out with tournaments nearly ever weekend, and it felt like a natural next step to focus all my time and energy on this new career move.
With that said, I do have a few things to say before I officially sign off.
If you would have asked me five to ten years ago what I would be doing today, I never would have told you I’d be working in golf. It will be three years in December of working in the industry, and wow, I am eternally grateful I somehow found my way here. I am eternally grateful for the people I’ve met and the experiences I now have. I am eternally grateful for the front row seat I get to one of the most beautiful games on the planet.
Golf has given me so much. It’s given me an amazing career—and one that I literally jump out of bed for. It’s given me a lot of Delta Skymiles and airline status that I never thought I’d have. It’s given me the chance to travel the world, like going to the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris and the 2019 Masters at Augusta. It’s given me my partner, who I actually met at the Ryder Cup two years ago. It’s given me another sport besides basketball to obsess over watching and playing. It’s given me the ability to connect with so many people I never would have crossed paths with before.
Most importantly, it’s given me perspective.
Being able to bring you the highs, lows and everything in between of women’s golf these last two years has been an absolute joy and something I took so much pride in. I have always said I want more for women’s golf. Through this platform, I was able to share a piece of my heart each week and play a small part in giving women’s golf a little bit more. Although you won’t be finding me in your inbox anymore, I can assure you my passion for women’s golf will not dissipate; I will keep supporting women’s golf in anyway possible until we get where we want to go.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the support. All my best!
Carly
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First Words
By Sarah Kellam, incoming writer of Golf Thursday
Hey y’all! My name is Sarah Kellam and I am incredibly excited to start contributing to The IX! I have always enjoyed writing, but have never had an outlet in which I could provide my own observations about golf, so I’m very much looking forward to this new venture.
A little about me: I have been around the game of golf for virtually my entire life. My father quickly stuck a club in my hands as soon as I learned to walk and I began to play competitively when I was seven. I had a pretty solid junior career and was able to play Division I college golf at Northern Kentucky University, where I still hold a few records and carded the program’s first DI win in 2014. After graduating, I worked as an assistant golf professional at a club in Northern Kentucky and began my career in golf media in 2018.
Something I noticed immediately when I started in the field was that there was definitely a discrepancy in how the women’s game was covered compared to the men’s. I understood, logistically, that there were more monetary opportunities on the men’s side and that, supposedly, more people were interested in the guys than the ladies, but I never followed the logic that golf consumers couldn’t be excited about both. (And the lack of coverage helps perpetuate that monetary gap.)
There are just as many amazing and important stories and events in women’s golf as men’s golf and, as I begin to progress through my career in golf, I now realize that I want to be a part of highlighting the incredible things happening in women’s golf across the country and the world. Thus, when the chance to do so through The IX arose, I jumped at it!
So, here we are! I am looking forward to putting the proverbial pen to paper and getting started next Golf Thursday. I cannot wait to see where this new adventure leads and am excited to share this new journey with all of you! Now, let’s talk women’s golf!
This Week in Women’s Golf
Reminder: First, the underlined words are the links. Second. CLICK these, even if you’ve already read them. Clicks = Attention from editors, producers and webmasters. Third, if you want to push out stuff you’ve written or read, email me! carlygrenfell@gmail.com
Sei Young Kim is a major champion at last. (via LPGA.com)
First-time major winners on the LPGA is the new norm. That’s a good thing. (via ESPN)
Solheim Cup stars set to compete in Saudi Arabia. (via Golfweek)
LPGA player gets a two-stroke penalty for slow play at a major and ends up missing the cut by one. (via Golfweek)
Why the women’s PGA championship was a major major. (via Golf.com)
Laura Davis continues to make history like the legend she is. (via LPGA.com)
How Mel Reid fantastically deleted a Twitter troll. (via Golf.com)
Rookie Bianca Pagdanganan had an incredible showing at her first major. (via LPGA.com)
Jin Young Ko set to make her return to the LPGA in November. (via Golfweek)
What are the financial realities of an LPGA Tour player? (via Golf Digest)
This LPGA pro transformed her health by making two crucial changes to her diet. (via Golf.com)
Long-bombing LPGA rookie not chasing distance like Bryson. (via Golf.com)
18 facts about Annika Sorenstam’s remarkable career. (via Golf Digest)
Tweet of the Week
Five at The IX: My Favorite Moments
Alright, friends. I’ve compiled some of my favorite interviews from over the last several years and am dropping them here for you to enjoy as well. Women’s golf has been an incredible story to help tell. In no particular order, these moments are at the top of my list.
I. Jeongeun Lee6’s Rookie of the Year speech last year.
II. Suzann Pettersen’s interview after holing the winning putt at Solheim.
III. Mel Reid winning the ShopRite Classic for her first LPGA win.
IV. Sophia Popov shocked the world after winning a major as a non-LPGA member.
V. The Race Fore Unity that raised money to break down barriers into golf.
