Golf Australia bans women golfers' calendar intended for charity

While the media and public - all over the world - can't get enough of the 13 women who bared nearly all for a calendar to raise funds for breast cancer research, a golf scholarship and some attention for the game, Golf Australia has banned it. Instead, the organisation has paid for Natalie Gulbis to come DownUnder and play, to inject an element of 'glamour' to the local game.

The adage “sex sells” seems only to apply to US and European sports women these days. Aussie Women Golf Pros remain under-funded and unknown.

Locally, Golf Australia is investing in importing an international rising star, Natalie Gulbis, described as the Anna Kournikova of golf, who is also yet to win a major event, to “inject some glamour” into the game. Gulbis, who is enjoying her share of media exposure in the lead up to the Open has her own calendar, a reality television show, writes a column in a men’s magazine FHM, has 14 corporate sponsors and is not averse to wearing the label of sex symbol.

The 23-year-old from Sacramento, California has clocked up over US$2.4 million and has proven that good looks, combined with the power and skill of an American marketing juggernaut, can achieve celebrity status without necessarily having to win. Gulbis has certainly earned some salt in the playing arena, but so too have some of our Australian emerging women, and for those that can match it in the glamour stakes the registers are yet to ring, while players like Gulbis are cleaning up.

Retired Golf Professional Jenny Sevil recently launched a sexy calendar featuring 13 of Australia’s brightest and most glamorous women golfers. Aimed at raising the profile of the game, some valuable funds for breast cancer via The McGrath Foundation and funding of an inaugural ALPG scholarship program, the calendar generated worldwide media attention and seemed to be the first step forward in promoting our girls as the gorgeous sports stars that they are. Sevil convinced personal contacts she has made through a successful

10-year stint in the sport to sponsor the calendar and invited some of the best emerging talent we have in this country to feature on its glossy pages.

Kristie Newton (daughter of golfing legend, Jack and recently voted by ALPHA men’s

magazine as one of the top 50 sexiest sports stars in the World), Nikki Garrett (LET Rookie of the Year) and a host of other glamorous professional players, were happy to donate their time for the project. For most Australians it was a shock to learn that female golfers can be attractive and the young emerging players are comfortable flaunting their talents in the hope of gaining greater recognition and some lucrative sponsorship and endorsement

opportunities at the same time.

While the controversy has raged as to whether the game can support such a sexy image, the positive proof comes from an opportunity for a one young struggling professional who could not afford to compete in the MFS women’s Open to gain sponsorship through the network of calendar supporters and her place was booked courtesy of a generous “sugar caddy” . This opportunity would not have come about without the help of the calendar and another young Australian female golfer would have fallen out of the race with no one even knowing just how good she could have been.

For Gulbis, the chance to play, travel and get paid regardless of placement is indeed a lucrative bonus to being a sports celebrity and her presence does not evoke any personal animosity.

But to overlook the talent and glamour that exist in our own professional ranks, while

paying an imported player valuable funds that could go a long way to helping our own young professionals, is surely at odds with a culture that has shaped Australia’s proud sporting history, based primarily on first supporting our own.

To buy a calendar, now HALF PRICE, visit www.womensgolfcalendar.com