A rare FreeForAll Friday today, the second freebie this week. Today we feature Mobster Kate Cassidy as our Friday Hemingway. Kate’s a longtime local, a fabulous painter and an enthusiastic commit-er of golf. Also today, we make another plea for Dylan Cease and look in on our Fun Experts for weekend advice. Enjoy.
Take it away, Kate. . .
Kate Cassidy comes from a business Management background in Computer Hardware Purchasing & Personnel in High Tech Companies in Colorado Springs, and was a Marketing Manager for Sylvan Learning Centers in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky before retirement in 2015. She became a semi-professional Artist in 2010 when she had her first show. Kate has lived in Cincinnati since 1991 and is an avid sports fan. Her Substack, KateCassidy@substack.com/vignettes began just over a year ago and follows her life experiences and travels from Colorado to Tucson, to Key West to the Caribbean, and to Ohio.
I didn’t really learn to play golf on a regular basis until I moved to Cincinnati in 1991. I always loved sports — tennis, track, softball, basketball, skiing, swimming, horseback riding — but I still battle with golf, a sport I hate to love and, on occasion, love to hate.
My first lesson as a woman golfer was, “pay up and hurry up.’’
Golf remains a conundrum for me. I have to shoot a “low score” to win, not a high one. I’m out on the links to hit the ball and putt, but not too many times, even though I paid a lot of money. It’s an expensive walk in the park, and you can’t go in the woods. At the first tee you have to pump up and slam the ball and work down to the green where you have to putt it gently like butter into the hole. Par golf? Not for a long time.
After paying thousands of dollars over the years on golf clubs, golf bags, the proper ‘legal’ attire, the greens fees, lessons, the cart fees, and golf balls, I would march like a hunter into the woods to look for a $3 ball. I am only allowed 5 minutes to find it, but mysteriously I don’t reappear for 15 minutes, sans ball.
Then I have to drive back up the course and hit the ball from its original lie, or from the tee box, and face the guys behind me that have been waiting hands on hips for me to get out of their way. “Fore, lady!’’ Then they watch me with all eight eyes tensely slice the ball into the lake on the right.
I look back and wave them on as my group in front of me awaits my return. The guys behind me have a few more choice words as they pass. They force a “thank you”, and one unwelcome finger sign. Now I’m out an extra $6 for two lost balls and I managed to back up the entire golf course. And did I mention that for the next 15 holes, my group had to wait on this same foursome that we let play through?
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They all hit like gladiators from the black tees. They launched their shots everywhere but straight (generally less than 150 yards and at least two into the trees) then spent 15 minutes putting for money and 15 more bantering with each other on the tee boxes.
It’s a wonder we women put up with them.
Women were allowed to play golf in the 16th century. Mary Queen of Scots was the first female known to have played regularly. The first women’s tour was played in 1811 in Scotland. A woman’s decent drive was 130 yards. Not bad given the equipment available back then.
The first professional tournament was held in 1900 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club. And the golfers could now compete with men in tournaments.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, women were not allowed to play golf as a competitive sport, only as a leisure activity. Victorian golf dresses included crinolines, bustles, multiple petticoats and heels. In the 1920’s they were allowed to wear fewer layers while golfing. The same time women finally earned their rights to vote.
Thank God, we have to be told to “avoid heels.” I can see some ding-a-ling wearing spiked heels if she’s told she can wear “spikes” on the links.
The dress codes have pretty much gone to the neo-extremes these days. The rules for public courses don’t really apply, as no one follows them, and who is going to measure the length of a short skirt, skort or shorts when she signs up to play? OK, I see a few of you raising your hands. Quite a few, actually. But truly, this is demeaning and inappropriate. Have some class, girls, if you expect respect. I live on a public course and once saw a young woman who played golf in a swimsuit with a tank top.
In a local private golf club, more than one, actually, women were not allowed in the bar area at the clubhouse until after 6 p.m., nor were they allowed to sign up to play the course until after 1. Yet, they were “allowed” to pay the same membership fees as men. The club was threatened with a lawsuit by a female lawyer who became a member a few years ago, and the club changed the rules that same year.
On Aug. 20, 2012, Augusta National, home of the Masters, stated that women could play there, but not join as members without being invited. The club was receiving much criticism from across the country for being all male. Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore were the first female members in 2012. They met the requirements for women’s memberships, which demanded they be brilliant, strategic, driven and philanthropic.
Condoleezza Rice was George W. Bush’s Secretary of State, a Professor at Stanford, studied Russian in Moscow, plays the piano and follows the sports world. Darla Moore was known on Wall Street as “The Toughest Babe in Business”. She was the highest paid female banker in the industry and the first women on the cover of Fortune magazine.
Women standing tall on the tee boxes are still facing looks of disdain at their local golf courses, unless they are dressed to be seen.
There is so much more I could say about golf, but I am running out of space. Golf is a mystery to me. I don’t like keeping score, but I love playing the game. I don’t like competition, unless it is a friendly game.
But I must admit, since I bought that $350 beautiful royal blue putter (affectionately named Blue) last year, my game has improved. It helped that I started using Callaway Chrome Soft golf balls. I rarely lose one, which is good, because they’re $5 a pop. I never play over water, because of their cost.
And I particularly love the 19th hole. (Sometimes the 10th hole, on especially bad days.) These are the watering, not water, holes, the redeeming calming space after a bad day on the links. If it is a good day, no it’s still the best place to share your favorite ‘shots’ (golf and otherwise) with your golf buddies, if you still have any.
Hit ‘em straight!
Now, then. . .
JUST SAYIN’. . . The Baltimore Orioles got all-star pitcher Corbin Burnes last night, for two minor-leaguers. The Orioles won 101 games last season, yet still went big to get better. The Reds won 82 and, well, you know.
Not a Red.
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In his six big-league years, Burnes has been an all-star three times and won a Cy Young. He was the best pitcher in a very good Milwaukee rotation. He was arguably the best pitcher in the NL Central last year.
The Orioles are not a big-money team. Their payroll ranked 29th of 30 last season. Like the Reds, they’re bursting with young talent. Enough so, they felt OK dealing a top prospect, infielder Joey Ortiz (MLB Pipeline’s #63 prospect) and a promising pitcher.
MLB.com says, “The Orioles didn’t have room in their infield for Ortiz due to the logjam of position-player talent. His path to the big leagues was blocked.’’
Sound familiar, Mobsters?
MLB also made mention of the Orioles’ “seven-year playoff drought’’ in a division with Tampa, Boston, Toronto and the Yankees. We know all about playoff droughts here in the Republic, don’t we?
Note to the Midas Men working at the Small Park: Dylan Cease still has not been traded.
AND NOW. . .
HEY MICHELLE! invites you to drink beer and eat pickles. Just for starters.
Cincy Beerfest ~ Feb 2-3 at Duke Energy. Sip on over 150 local and craft brews. There will also be bites and food trucks
Matt Fraser ~ America’s top psychic medium will be at Hard Rock Friday at 8:00
CAM Kids Day ~ This FREE event at the Cincinnati Art Museum is a perfect way to spend the day with the family. They have so many things for the kids 3-5 (11:00-1:00) kids 5-12 (1:00-3:00) with age appropriate performances, activities, games and more.
Dracula: World Premier ~ There are preview performances at Playhouse in the Park Feb. 3, 6 and 7. Opening Night is the 8th.. running Feb 3-Mar 3
Pickle Wars ~ Jungle Jim’s is hosting this big Dill ;) you can try over 27 types of pickles and vote for the king of pickles.
Motorcycle Show ~ Garage Brewed at Rhinegeist all day Saturday. Check out custom bikes, rare finds, classics and everything in between while sipping on some brews.
Where I’ve eaten lately ~ Opal Rooftop in Covington.. fantastic ambiance and beautiful views of Cincy and NKY. They have a really great menu and something for everyone. This is the spot for a casual night out or a special occasion. Get a resy or pop in for luck at the bar.
Michelle Dorward Jones
HeyMichelle1 on Insta follow along
Promoting restaurants, bars and all things fun in Cincinnati & travel
IMBIBER DAVE tours the Ell-Lay hills in a wicked Ferrari
Nothing says imbibing quite like the 620 horsepower Ferrari Portofino M. While visiting my best friend in LA last weekend, I found myself tucked into the cockpit of his.
After driving the canyons between LA and Malibu last year I knew this was a bucket list item. Doing it again in a barely broken in gentlemen’s supercar was otherworldly. The sound was incredible, loud and full bodied without being overbearing. Accelerating through the tunnels however was a bit earsplitting in the best possible way.
It’s hard to imagine something like that here, despite us having so many rolling hills with sharp turns in rural areas.
We attended a Jerry Seinfeld-esque Coffee & Cars meet up in Manhattan Beach. There were over 200 amazing rides from every walk of life. A real treat to see, and even cooler that everyone I met was a generally chill individual. Despite all the money in that parking lot, egos were checked at the virtual door.
A goal I’ve added for the year is to explore Cincy a little more, especially off the beaten path. I had no idea there were a couple car clubs here until I started looking.
I’m not asking for LA traffic, but certainly wouldn’t mind meeting a friend with a Ferrari that isn’t 2,000 miles away. This will tide me over until I pick up my own GT3, NSX, or M3 someday.
Cheers!
cincybeerguydave@gmail.com
TUNE O’ THE DAY. . . These guys are touring now. They’ll be at Riverbend. Last I saw them was well over a decade ago, for free at the arena along the river. It was some sort of Skyline promotion, I think. Anyone remember it?
What I remember most of that night was one of my overserved pals screaming “Play Ukiah!’’ after the lights had come up.
One of my favorite groups and I don’t even like China Grove much, or Long Train Runnin’. This one’s a Top 5.
Kate, I play golf with dear friends (husband&wife) on a regular basis, locally, and we also did a St Andrews trip 6 years ago. Talked about Bandon Dunes yesterday.
Other than hitting from a different tee, she hangs right with us. And can beat us more frequently than I care to admit. Come join us sometime.
I love the Chrome Softs. Got : dozen at Christmas, just waiting for warmer, drier weather.
Nice job on the piece!
Orioles are going all in. Very happy for them. They’ll have to rebuild in 2028, but at least they’ll know they really really tried in the near term.
The Reds should adopt a snail as their management mascot. Last season they had a “plan” for Tyler Stevenson where he would not catch so much so he’d be healthy. He played so little he had no rhythm and he played poorly. Next year we will hear similar tales about Elly, Marte, CES, etc. No one got enough playing time.
Reds say it will work. They are kidding themselves. Position players won’t play enough. The starters don’t have enough experience. If you can’t bring yourself to trade a portion of your excessive bounty of infielders, then make a 2 year $40M per offer for Blake Snell. Or Montgomery. Or trade a few and save a ton of money w Cease.