Kimchi Mamas

Ryder Cup Big Win for USA and Asians . . .

Team USA captured the Ryder Cup this past weekend.

Big news for Team USA  considering Tiger Woods was not on the team, the team roster had more than it's fair share of rookies (6), the European team was highly favored and Team USA hasn't won a Ryder Cup since before my daughter was born - 1999 was the last time . . .

But leading the pack to victory was fellow Asian/Korean American (and transplanted Texan) Anthony "AK" Kim.  His performance at Ryder Cup has hailed comparisons to Tiger Woods - and he's been ear-marked as the next golfer with the potential ability to really challenge Woods.  He was SO "in the zone" that during play, he had to be TOLD he'd just won! 

Way to go Team USA (and a special pat on the back to "AK" from this Kimchi Mama)!

-Angie in Texas also thinks Anthony Kim is a real cutie-pie.  Shhh, don't tell anyone (hes young enough to be my dong-saeng).

This Kimchi Mama's WTF of the Week

(I titled this post "This Kimchi Mama's WTF of the Week" because what I have to say may not stand true for the other KMs.)

Yesterday news sources stated the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) announced they are going to require ALL LPGA members to speak English by 2009.

My first reaction upon reading the story was "WTF?"  ?

According to the article, there was a mandatory meeting last week of South Korean players that outlined the new requirements.  Basically starting IN LESS THAN  5 MONTHS, members who have been on the tour for 2 or more years must be able to proficiently speak and therefore PASS an oral exam . . . if not, their membership could be suspended.  This new policy becomes effective immediately.  South Korean players make up the majority of the International contingency - there are 45 South Koreans out of 121 total International players from 26 countries. 

The LPGA's  tour's deputy comissioner,  Libba Galloway said "an impression must be made that communicating effectively in English is fundamental to the tour’s business". 

So nobody panic - this is a BUSINESS decision. 

One of the things I found most disturbing from the article was this:

"Kate Peters, executive director of the LPGA State Farm Classic, supported the news. “This is an [American tour]. It is important for sponsors to be able to interact with players and have a positive experience.”"

Because it's AN AMERICAN TOUR?  WTF?

And I take offense at the idea that sponsors wouldn't be able to have "a positive experience" because their player doesn't speak English.  (At many Pro-Am events a player is paired with a small group of sponsors - who pay big bucks - who get to play alongside, take photos with and talk to their pals about playing with the likes of Angela Park, Christie Kerr and Hee Won Han.) 

To be fair, the article also cited several Korean players who said they support the policy . . . but I can't shake the feeling there's still something amiss.

This is still a fresh news story, so I think I'm going to need a day or two to really get into this . . . But I just wanted to share with ya'll my INITIAL gut reaction.

-Angie in Texas threw her clubs into a water hazard once after missing a 5 foot putt - three times, but still loves the game of golf.

Golf Fever: Congenital talent... or

My parents never got swept into the golf craze.  We left Korea in late 70's and missed out on the economic boom of the '80's; golf wasn't even part of our vocabulary while we lived in Bangladesh.

I do remember we would share a chuckle or two as we made fun of one of my dad's younger business associate who came to Bangladesh a few years after we did.  This man had golf on his mind 24/7.  Whenever he had a few minutes to kill, whether waiting for the car to pull up or waiting to be seated at a restaurant, he'd position his feet in a golf stance and take a phantom swing with his phantom club.

Of course, this phantom swing always followed long awkward moments of watching this man wiggle his hips, shift his feet until position was prime, loosen his shoulders, feint few phantom phantom swings, and swivel his neck a few times before he was ready to take a real phantom swing.  It was... painful to watch yet too amusing not to.