The salient focus of our discussion revolves around the upcoming LPGA Portland Classic, an esteemed tournament that celebrates its 55th anniversary this year. We are joined by Monica Olson, co-director of the event, who elucidates the enhancements made to the tournament experience, emphasizing the increased opportunities for audience engagement and participation. Additionally, we delve into the significance of Women's Day at the Portland Golf Show, highlighting the importance of promoting women's golf and fostering a welcoming environment for all attendees. The conversation further encompasses the role of sponsors, particularly the Standard, which is dedicated to supporting women's golf initiatives. In conclusion, we invite listeners to partake in this enriching golfing experience, not only to witness the tournament but to engage with the vibrant community surrounding it.
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Speaker A:Welcome to a live edition of Grilling at the Green from the Portland Golf show here at the Expo center in North Portland.
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Speaker A:So my first guest today is Monica Olson from Little Bird Media.
Speaker A:Monica is the co director of the up and coming LPGA Portland Classic, the Standard Classic this year out of Columbia Edgewater, August 13th through the 16th out there.
Speaker A:It's a great tournament.
Speaker A:What is it, 55 years this year?
Speaker A:55 years.
Speaker A:Anyway, welcome.
Speaker C:K. Well, thank you.
Speaker C:Yeah, nice to be here.
Speaker A:How are, how's the tournament kind of lining up this year?
Speaker C:It's lining up really well.
Speaker C:We're, you know, we've got the Standard as our title sponsor and they are, everything's really rocking and rolling with that.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So what can people expect this year when they come there?
Speaker A:Because I know since you guys have assumed the wheel, so to speak, that each year things get a little better.
Speaker A:There's more things for people to do.
Speaker A:There's more interaction with not just the pros, but people all through the event.
Speaker C:Yeah, well, we are doing very similar to last year, but, you know, like you said, every year it gets a little bigger and better.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker C:Even just attendance wise.
Speaker C:Last year we had awesome attendance and we anticipate that more.
Speaker C:Even just being here at the golf show is like people are coming up to us and saying we've never been.
Speaker C:We went last year for the first time and we're coming back.
Speaker C:So.
Speaker C:But we've got the family Fun Zone is going to be a little different this year.
Speaker C:We're teaming up with the first team and they're going to help us run it.
Speaker C:So that's, yeah, wonderful because they're in a great alignment with that.
Speaker C:We have the sports for our pop up last year, which was the first year that we had had that.
Speaker C:And they're coming back again, back by popular demand.
Speaker A:I think that's great.
Speaker A:And I think, you know, you have a.
Speaker A:Are you still having the kids tournament on Saturday?
Speaker C:Yes, yes.
Speaker C:The Les Schwab junior tournament, Girls junior tournament.
Speaker C:Very popular.
Speaker D:That's great.
Speaker A:If you've never been, that's a great thing for the young ladies to participate in.
Speaker A:And some of the tour pros actually come over there and they don't really give them golf lessons, but they interact with them, they motivate them, tell their stories a little bit.
Speaker A:And that's something that I know Monica and her crew at Little Bird have worked hard on for that.
Speaker A:What would the.
Speaker A:If somebody's never been and you know, they've heard about it, it's been around for a long time, obviously, but they go, I know how to get tickets.
Speaker A:That's easy enough.
Speaker A:But what do I do?
Speaker A:What.
Speaker A:What can I do when I get there?
Speaker A:Is it just.
Speaker A:They've never been to a golf tournament.
Speaker A:What's.
Speaker A:What do they do?
Speaker A:Do they follow a group of players or do they sit in the stands or what do they do?
Speaker C:Well, you can do, you can do all of that.
Speaker C:We, we have some people who have never even set goals, put on a golf course before that maybe feel a little intimidated about walking into a fancy country club.
Speaker A:Right, right.
Speaker C:But it's really welcoming for everyone.
Speaker C:So whether you are following a golfer, like you said, you could follow along.
Speaker C:You could be part of the galley and follow a player and you can get pretty up close and, you know, up close to the players and watch that.
Speaker C:Or you can, you know, there's food trucks.
Speaker C:You can grab some Portland, best food trucks there.
Speaker C:And you can.
Speaker C:Family fun zone.
Speaker C:Like I said, sports bar pop up.
Speaker C:There's lots of things to do.
Speaker E:Yeah.
Speaker A:So what's your field starting to look like?
Speaker A:I know it's early.
Speaker A:It's still basically six months off.
Speaker A:But I know that a lot of the.
Speaker A:I've had the fortunate pleasure to interview a lot of the players over the years coming to Portland and then once they get here.
Speaker A:But coming to Portland's always kind of like a big deal to a lot of these players.
Speaker A:It's getting later in the season, but it's such a lovely course.
Speaker A:The event has run superbly.
Speaker A:I can't say enough nice things about it.
Speaker A:But how's your field stack now?
Speaker C:Well, it's very early and we won't know much about that until it comes a little bit closer.
Speaker C:But we love where the Tour, where our stop on the Tour is in just in general for those players to be coming.
Speaker C:Canada is right after us before the Solheim cup is picked.
Speaker C:So we, we really, we really like that.
Speaker C:There's something new this year, though, that just got announced by the LPGA that has to do with players that I thought I should share.
Speaker C:So we just found out that the LPGA created four new exemptions, and those exemptions are for the winners of the.
Speaker C:I'm going to get it wrong if I don't read it.
Speaker C:The rna, Augusta national and National Collegiate Athlete Association.
Speaker C:So four.
Speaker C:There's going to be four.
Speaker C:And they get to play in our tournament.
Speaker C:So the LPGA chose the Standard Portland Classic to.
Speaker C:That's their launch.
Speaker A:That thing.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker E:Yeah.
Speaker A:That's very cool.
Speaker A:And you can watch it on golf channel.
Speaker A:The LPGAs worked hard with the Golf Channel.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:And they've got a lot more coverage this year.
Speaker A:And going forward it will increase.
Speaker A:But you get three hours a day, which normally they do kind of an hour, maybe two highlight deal and then your, and it's late and all that stuff.
Speaker A:And I know we're on the west coast, so broadcast companies, you know, located on the east coast, there's always that time thing you got to work around.
Speaker A:But that's really good news.
Speaker C:It is really good news.
Speaker C:And you know.
Speaker F:Yes.
Speaker C:So another thing that is really exciting is that the, there's been a huge investment into LPGA on the Golf Channel.
Speaker C:And so starting this year, you know, when you watch men's golf on tv, you see the track and you see a lot of really good, some of some technology highlights.
Speaker C:And women's golf hasn't had that.
Speaker C:And starting this year you'll see that.
Speaker C:So that just makes golf more interesting to watch.
Speaker C:And more, more people will tune in, which is amazing.
Speaker A:I like the trackman stuff, you know, because you can see it.
Speaker A:And if, like you said, if you're watching a men's event, you know, as soon as the ball is 10ft off the tee, it picks it up and you kind of get the idea.
Speaker A:But they've never had that before for the lake.
Speaker C:Right, right.
Speaker A:So, so that's.
Speaker A:So let me ask you a couple personal things.
Speaker A:I'm not going to ask you about your golf sports these days, but, but I am going to ask you what's the, the highlight for you being a co director, you personally, Monica.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker C:Well, I would say, I mean, it's a, it's a huge event.
Speaker C:And so for me the highlight is Accomplishing this wonderful event that all these people from across the area have come to.
Speaker C:We get to host the players and they, and highlight what they do.
Speaker C:And so at the end of the day, it's like, you know, after the tournament's done, done and over, it's a job well done.
Speaker A:I think that's when you put your feet up and you know, have a jack on the rocks or whatever.
Speaker C:Sleep.
Speaker C:Sleep for a week.
Speaker A:Sleep for a week.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Tell us about the new title sponsor.
Speaker A:Standard is fairly new for them now.
Speaker A:A lot of emphasis again on women's golf.
Speaker A:They're big supporters here.
Speaker A:I just watched you on stage and you've got Amy and forgive me, you introduced me this morning, but I can't remember her last name.
Speaker A:Oh, Amy Malagamba from the Standard.
Speaker A:What prompted them to jump in?
Speaker A:This is a big commitment.
Speaker C:Yeah, well, I think, you know, we, we started conversations early on and introduced them to the tournament.
Speaker C:They started coming and they got involved at a little bit of a smaller level to start and they, they realized what.
Speaker C:How important the tournament is to the city.
Speaker A:Yeah, I think, you know, what I like to see and what you guys are able to accomplish with the Standard is that they don't look, it seems to me they're not looking for an immediate ROI return on investment.
Speaker A:They look at it in the long term.
Speaker A:I work in the very similar aspect of the business that you do.
Speaker A:And unfortunately, sometimes sponsors.
Speaker A:Not a criticism up, but they look at too much of the short term.
Speaker C:Sure.
Speaker A:And they come back and they say, well, you know, we spent all this money and we really didn't get what we wanted.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:And I'm sure you have the same retorts as I do.
Speaker A:Well, if you did it for three or four years, you would see that.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker A:But sometimes they don't.
Speaker A:And it's a business decision that they have to make for their own people and company.
Speaker A:But I, I'm always excited when I see people that, you know, sign longer term agreements and get out there and help it grow.
Speaker F:Yeah.
Speaker C:I don't want to speak on.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker C:Out of turn and on behalf of the Standard, but I do believe they think it's a long term investment with some shorter term benefits too.
Speaker C:I think they realize every year when they have clients out there and they're hosting and what it does for their employee, you know, appreciation, there's a lot of immediate gratification.
Speaker C:But also.
Speaker C:Yes, a long term.
Speaker C:A long term.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's.
Speaker A:Any potential sponsors listening to this?
Speaker A:Whether it's for what Monica and Lynn do and little bird or stuff that we do.
Speaker A:You got to look at the long term, really.
Speaker A:I, I just think that's important.
Speaker B:We'll be right back with more of the Grilling at the Green special from the Portland Golf show on Women's Day right after this.
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Speaker A:When you are working with somebody like the Standard and your your emphasis again like on Saturdays with the younger girls coming out to play and that, you know, to me the smart money says you work with them now and they will be involved in this years going forward.
Speaker A:You know, I think that's a really smart angle to take or avenue to take.
Speaker A:It's not an angle, but yeah, I just think it's so important.
Speaker A:And of course we always talk about in the golf industry saying got to grow the game.
Speaker A:Not do we just need to grow the game because growing the game can be, I'm not lecturing you short term, but you got to build things for the long term.
Speaker A:And with programs like the first tee that we were talking about earlier, I think that's the way to do it.
Speaker C:That's right.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:Introduce people early and often.
Speaker A:So I want to talk about the blow ups.
Speaker D:Okay.
Speaker A:Yeah, inflatables, which I always get a kick out of when I walk by them.
Speaker A:You've got alligators and hippos and giraffes and rhinos, whatever out there.
Speaker A:And it's our friends from Birdie Ball which we'll be talking about in a minute.
Speaker A:But they've helped out a little bit first.
Speaker A:T has helped out a bit.
Speaker A:So my real question is, can you, Monica Olson, get the ball in the hippo's mouth?
Speaker C:I actually haven't even tried, but I'm sure I could if I tried.
Speaker C:Yeah, often it had enough Repetition.
Speaker C:I probably could.
Speaker A:Maybe.
Speaker A:Maybe when I'm out there this year, you and I'll have to have a little challenge.
Speaker C:Okay, let's do it.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:What should we bet?
Speaker C:A food truck meal.
Speaker A:A food truck?
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Winner gets to pick.
Speaker A:Oh, right.
Speaker C:Okay, sure, no problem.
Speaker A:Does it have to be a food truck on the venue or can we pick one in downtown?
Speaker A:So I just want to clarify the rules and we'll have thousands of witnesses here.
Speaker C:Whatever you want.
Speaker C:I don't care.
Speaker A:You got to make it in the MO First.
Speaker C:You know that's right.
Speaker C:That's.
Speaker A:You're.
Speaker A:You're going forward with this.
Speaker A:How long is your commitment?
Speaker A:I'm not trying to get, you know, you know, five years or anything like that, but is your commitment really like once you got in?
Speaker A:Because I know you didn't know a whole lot about working on a tournament when you first started a few years ago, but now you're in up to your ears.
Speaker A:Right on this thing is your commitment two hours a day, five hours a day, 365 like that.
Speaker A:You know you have lots of other clients too.
Speaker C:Yeah, we do have quite a few other clients, but so no, it's not every 24, 7.
Speaker C:But until you get, you get closer to the tournament than it for sure is.
Speaker C:But all year long we are looking for sponsors and so that's kind of where we, where we, where we live outside of the few weeks or the few months leading up to the tournament and then immediately after.
Speaker C:But so yeah, I'd probably say I don't, I don't even know how many hours a day we've got a team.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's a lot.
Speaker A:It's a lot.
Speaker A:And as you grow this thing, it will become bigger.
Speaker A:Your time commitment will become bigger.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:Just sage old advice here.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker A:Because I'm two weeks older than you are.
Speaker C:Please share.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's okay.
Speaker A:So how can people find out more about to get to the standard find information about it if they want to volunteer anything like that.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:So the, the website is the best place to go.
Speaker C:Portlandclassic.com and tickets are not quite on sale.
Speaker C:They'll be on sale this week and actually everyone here at the, at the golf show gets a free ticket in.
Speaker C:It's of a special link for.
Speaker C:For just them and then.
Speaker C:But registration for volunteers is open and we are, we're looking for volunteers.
Speaker C:We had over 400 last year and we would love 600 this year.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker A:So sure.
Speaker A:A lot of free food.
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker A:That's my deal.
Speaker A:If you can't go.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:Monica, thank you so much.
Speaker A:It's been a pleasure.
Speaker C:Thank you.
Speaker A:It's always good to talk to you.
Speaker C:Thank you.
Speaker A:Monica Olson from Little Bird Productions Media, but also co tournament director for the standard Portland LPGA Classic coming up August 13th through the 16th at Columbia Edgewater.
Speaker A:If you've never been to that tournament, I would recommend you do it.
Speaker A:You'll enjoy your afternoon or however long you're there.
Speaker A:And if you have any questions, call Monica.
Speaker A:Don't call me.
Speaker C:Please come.
Speaker A:It's good.
Speaker A:But thank you again for stepping in.
Speaker A:Yeah, I appreciate that.
Speaker A:Okay, next up, we're going to have Dr. Lisa Poritz from Funky Mulligan.
Speaker A:Now, you might not know this, but Dr. Lisa is actually a surgeon, and she does some very creative things with golf balls.
Speaker A:And I happened to.
Speaker A:To meet her kind of happenstance.
Speaker A:Sleep through.
Speaker A:Yeah, through my Good friends Steve DePaula.
Speaker A:And he called me and he had been at a little, almost like a farmer's market for, for golf.
Speaker A:And he said, there's this lady you got to talk to.
Speaker A:So that's how it started.
Speaker A:Dr. Lisa.
Speaker E:Hi.
Speaker E:Hi.
Speaker E:How are you doing?
Speaker E:I'm good.
Speaker E:I'm good, too.
Speaker A:How do you go from being a top surgeon into making stuff with golf balls?
Speaker E:Well, it's sort of cutting also, because I'm cutting the golf balls, but there's no blood and there's no phone calls in the middle of the night.
Speaker E:So this is a little more relaxed.
Speaker E:But yeah, I just found these golf balls and found out that they had all these different colors in them and started cutting them and making as much stuff out of them as I could.
Speaker A:We can hold these up a little bit.
Speaker E:So these are coasters made out of used golf balls.
Speaker E:This one is made from all the different colored golf balls, and this is made from white golf balls.
Speaker E:And you can use it on both sides.
Speaker E:This is just a small sample of the things I've been making.
Speaker A:So when you're.
Speaker A:You're operating on somebody and you've got your hands down in them and you think, you know, I can bet you I can make a coaster.
Speaker A:Is that, is that how that works?
Speaker E:Well, you know, these do look like gallstones.
Speaker E:Maybe, but no, probably not.
Speaker A:Probably not.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:You.
Speaker A:You are serious for just a few minutes here, you're an actual golf fanatic.
Speaker E:Yes.
Speaker A:You have played in club championships and all that different stuff.
Speaker A:I know when I talked to you on my regular show, we covered that, but this is probably a different audience today.
Speaker A:How did you get involved in golf is kind of a Standard question.
Speaker A:But then when did you make that leap for from casual golfer into maniacal golf ball swatter?
Speaker E:So, honestly, I had played a little golf, but when I decided to go to medical school, I had to stay home one summer and take organic chemistry because I hadn't taken it.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah.
Speaker E:And I did this in upstate New York, and there was nothing else to do but play golf.
Speaker E:And a good friend of mine was doing the same thing and taking physics.
Speaker E:So we went to our respective classes, and then we played golf.
Speaker E:And I went from about a 40 handicap down to a 15, and then I've progressively gotten better at it, and now, yeah, I play in tournaments.
Speaker E:I've played in a few USGA women's senior amateurs, all sorts of stuff.
Speaker A:So how much time do you actually get to spend on the course these days?
Speaker A:You're kind of retired from the medical world.
Speaker E:I am retired from the medical world.
Speaker E:Last week, when it was nice out, I played six days in a row.
Speaker A:Oh, geez.
Speaker A:That's more than Pete and I play
Speaker E:all year this summer.
Speaker E:I'll probably play five to six days a week.
Speaker E:And then I should practice, too.
Speaker A:I should have gotten a medical school
Speaker E:beat, you know what I mean?
Speaker E:But then you have to cut people open in the middle of the night.
Speaker A:Yeah, well, that's true.
Speaker A:That's true.
Speaker A:But blood never bothered me like that anyway, because I grew up on a farm, you know, so we were always operating on horses or cattle or something like that.
Speaker A:You know, it did that.
Speaker B:We're gonna take a quick break, and we'll be right back with more grilling at the Green from the Portland Golf Show.
Speaker B:Hey, everybody, it's jt.
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Speaker B:Hey, welcome back.
Speaker B:You're listening to Grilling at the Green, not only on our local radio stations in the Northwest and across the country, but Also on Golf NewsNet and all the podcast platforms.
Speaker B:And we're bringing this special to you, the highlights of Women's Day at the Portland Golf Show.
Speaker A:So, okay, where did you come up with a name?
Speaker A:Funky Mulligan?
Speaker E:I came up with the name in the beginning.
Speaker E:I was just trying to find a name to call it.
Speaker E:And it just sort of came to me.
Speaker E:It's probably more creative than anything I've made.
Speaker A:No, but they're great.
Speaker A:And I've been by your booth, of course, I know you, and you've got tabletops and serving trays.
Speaker A:And one of the big hits here is the bottle openers and the wine port screws and stoppers and stuff.
Speaker A:And they're pretty cool.
Speaker A:What are the parameters for you to select a golf ball to turn into one of your pieces of art?
Speaker E:So I'll use any golf ball.
Speaker E:The ones that are all beat up and the covers are all destroyed.
Speaker E:I cut out the insides and I use them to make the mosaics.
Speaker E:I've got a swinging golfer and an alligator and signs.
Speaker E:And if you.
Speaker E:I use just the inside, so it doesn't matter what the COVID looks like.
Speaker E:The ones that are in better shape, I'll make the coasters out of.
Speaker E:Cause they look kind of nice on them.
Speaker E:Or I'll make the wine stoppers or the bottle openers.
Speaker E:And I just try to use all parts of the golf ball so that none of it gets wasted.
Speaker A:I like that.
Speaker A:I like that.
Speaker A:If you've never.
Speaker A:Well, the first time I saw it, and Steve bought me one of these.
Speaker A:Now I have two because you made me one.
Speaker A:Oregon State colors.
Speaker A:I might.
Speaker E:I do have some Oregon State colors at my booth and some Oregon colors at my booth.
Speaker A:See?
Speaker E:Bipartisan.
Speaker A:Bipartisan.
Speaker A:We like that.
Speaker A:We need more of that here.
Speaker A:Anyway, you're headed to Australia.
Speaker E:I am.
Speaker A:And you've got some personal family stuff to do down there and all that.
Speaker A:And then you're coming back.
Speaker A:So what would your schedule be on the golf course as soon as you get back?
Speaker A:Are you going to take a day or two to rest up from the jet lag?
Speaker A:I've made that trip that you're making several times.
Speaker A:So for me, it was always about the third day back.
Speaker A:And then I was like, oh, but people are different.
Speaker E:I pretty sure as soon as the sun comes out, I'll go play golf.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker E:Because that all been.
Speaker E:I'm not taking my clubs with me.
Speaker E:So it'll be a couple weeks.
Speaker A:There's some good courses down.
Speaker E:I know, I know, I know.
Speaker E:But I'm gonna go hiking.
Speaker A:You're gonna go hiking.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Let me tell you about off camera.
Speaker A:Let me tell you about some of the animals you might encounter in Australia.
Speaker A:And they're not.
Speaker A:All of them are friendly.
Speaker E:I've heard that a lot of things could eat me.
Speaker E:Most of the hiking's in New Zealand does.
Speaker E:And apparently the animals, New Zealand doesn't have a lot of those creatures because when they separated, the water prevented them from getting to New Zealand.
Speaker E:So apparently all the things that can kill you are only in Australia and not in New Zealand.
Speaker A:When you fly into New Zealand, you come in low and you see all these white fluffy things.
Speaker A:And they're sheep.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker A:And they're fat sheep.
Speaker E:Yeah.
Speaker E:They make the merino wool there.
Speaker E:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:And you see all these little stone fences.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker A:It's kind of cool.
Speaker A:When you fly into Australia, you don't see that it's different.
Speaker A:I'm just going to leave it at that.
Speaker E:Okay.
Speaker A:But just anything that slithers, rattles, growls, or runs in Australia, pretty much stay away from.
Speaker E:Yeah.
Speaker E:Somebody told me that the, the larger the spider, the less poisonous it is.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:You have snakes that are called the big browns.
Speaker E:You know, I'm going to be mostly in Sydney, so hopefully nothing will eat me there.
Speaker A:Yeah, you got a pretty good.
Speaker A:Pretty good chance there anyway.
Speaker A:So where do you see Funky Mulligan being in a couple of years?
Speaker A:You gonna do more trade shows like this?
Speaker A:Are you gonna start an online network empire?
Speaker E:I'm gonna do some more trade shows.
Speaker E:I'm trying to work on the marketing thing.
Speaker E:I've approached a couple clubs to put logo golf balls in these.
Speaker E:So Rock Creek has ordered some and they gave me the balls and it's gonna have the Rock Creek logo in them.
Speaker E:So sort of taking it that way.
Speaker E:I would love to build larger outdoor art, but I haven't quite figured out how to do that yet.
Speaker E:But I can't get too far ahead because I've got to hand make everything.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's true.
Speaker A:And this is just like an epoxy.
Speaker E:That's an epoxy resin.
Speaker E:A special one for thick.
Speaker E:Thick.
Speaker E:For making deep pores that are thicker like this.
Speaker A:You buy this stuff in the five
Speaker E:gallon barrels or not quite that big because it'll.
Speaker E:It'll degrade with time once it's open.
Speaker E:So I kind of buy it.
Speaker E:I buy this.
Speaker E:This stuff in a three gallon set.
Speaker E:It's a two to one ratio.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:So that chemistry that you had to learn in New York, that comes in handy.
Speaker E:I.
Speaker E:Yes.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I didn't do so good the first time I took biochem.
Speaker A:Iced it.
Speaker A:I used it the second time.
Speaker A:But the first time I did do so good.
Speaker A:I'll leave it at that.
Speaker A:How can people find out more?
Speaker E:Well, if they're here today, they can certainly come and talk to me right I have Instagram, which is Unkey Mulligan.
Speaker E:And this stuff is also available on Etsy under Funky Mulligan.
Speaker E:And I have.
Speaker E:There's Facebook under Funky Mulligan.
Speaker E:But that's mostly how you can learn more.
Speaker E:But if you're here today and you want to come chat, I'm happy to talk to people, make custom art.
Speaker E:It doesn't have to be in the colors I have displayed.
Speaker E:As long as it exists in a golf ball, I can make it in that color for you.
Speaker A:Okay, Lisa, thank you so much.
Speaker A:You're very welcome.
Speaker A:It's always a pleasure to see.
Speaker E:Thank you.
Speaker A:And don't forget, folks, it's the Funky Mulligan.
Speaker A:You can find it on Etsy and, like she said, Facebook and Insta.
Speaker A:There's lots of instance.
Speaker A:But I try Instagram first.
Speaker E:Instagram.
Speaker E:It's not on Instacart.
Speaker A:No, not on Instacart.
Speaker A:No.
Speaker A:But it's all good.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker E:All right.
Speaker E:Thank you so much.
Speaker A:So good.
Speaker E:Thank you.
Speaker A:Good.
Speaker A:We'd like to thank a couple of our sponsors.
Speaker A:Snell Golf Balls Tour Quality Golf Balls Factory direct to you.
Speaker A:Go to snellgolf.com and you can order them there.
Speaker A:And I use Snell Golf Balls.
Speaker A:We've got some here on the table.
Speaker A:Dean Snell, who helped create the Pro V1s.
Speaker A:If you're questioning the chemistry and stuff behind it, believe me, Dean is a chemical engineer, and he knows what he's doing.
Speaker A:Also, we'd like to thank.
Speaker A:Thank Dave Griffey back at Carsley Golf back in South Dakota, home of the Rhymer.
Speaker A:I've got one here, actually, just right under my desk.
Speaker A:Call this.
Speaker A:This is a little alignment thing that you can pop in your bag.
Speaker A:Because a lot of people have trouble with not just alignment, but spacing the golf ball in their stance.
Speaker A:This little gizmo right here will help you out immensely.
Speaker A:And they're not very expensive, and they're very portable.
Speaker A:So I would go to carsleygolf.com that's C-A R L S E Y golf dot com.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:My next guest today, Marianne Robinson, past senior executive Grand Poo Bob, president of the LPGA Amateur association here in Portland.
Speaker A:Marion, it's good to see you.
Speaker D:Hey, thank you.
Speaker A:So tell us about the association.
Speaker A:This started a few years ago as the Executive Women's Golf Association.
Speaker D:Yes.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker D:A number of years ago.
Speaker D:It was originally the Executive Women's Golf Association.
Speaker D: And then, I want to say: Speaker D:So now we are under the umbrella of the lpga, and we are the amateur group.
Speaker A:So do you guys have delusions of grandeur?
Speaker A:Like, did they hit it like Millie Corna or what?
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker D:We miss.
Speaker A:So what.
Speaker A:What does it do for members?
Speaker A:I mean, there's.
Speaker A:There's lots of golf associations and membership programs.
Speaker A:There's tons of them.
Speaker A:Most all of them are great.
Speaker A:But to be affiliated with the LPGA as amateurs and to do that.
Speaker A:Tell us how the system works, if you will, and what are the benefits for people if they'd like.
Speaker A:I'm assuming you don't like old fat guys joining, but it would be like.
Speaker D:We actually do have a couple of male members.
Speaker D:Their husbands.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah.
Speaker A:You know, my wife does golf.
Speaker A:That's kind of tough deal.
Speaker D:No, we.
Speaker D:So you're talking to the Portland chapter here.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker D:We provide opportunities for women to play golf together.
Speaker D:A lot of times women, you know, they might play with their husband, but they don't know other women to golf with.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker D:So this organization is really great because it allows for many opportunities for.
Speaker D:For women to plug off.
Speaker D:We have leagues all over the city, some during the day, some in the evening.
Speaker D:For those who are working, we play weekend events at various courses, including courses out of the city.
Speaker D:So some in at the beach and some down in Central Oregon.
Speaker D:It just kind of coming down to the oga.
Speaker D:Yes.
Speaker D:In fact, we're having our.
Speaker D:One of our chapter championship events at the Oga Girls that I live three blocks.
Speaker D:Oh, well, July 26th is the day
Speaker A:well come over and say hi.
Speaker A:You're going to be there, right?
Speaker D:I'll be there.
Speaker A:I like that a lot.
Speaker A:Is there a cocktail hour involved there?
Speaker E:Always.
Speaker D:Come on.
Speaker D:You gotta have the 19th hole.
Speaker A:You gotta have the 19th hole there.
Speaker A:So whatever possessed you to raise your hand and say yes?
Speaker A:To be.
Speaker D:To become a member or to be president?
Speaker A:That's.
Speaker A:There's two different levels there, remember?
Speaker A:Is.
Speaker A:Okay, well, president is like.
Speaker D:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker D:So I joined as a new golfer about 16 years ago, and I played in a league, and then I began managing that same league for 10 years, and I was asked to become a member of the board.
Speaker D:So I became a programs director, which means I was in charge of all of the leagues and the education part of what we do.
Speaker D:And then I got asked to be the president.
Speaker A:Isn't that funny how that works?
Speaker B:We're going to take a quick break, come back and wrap up the show right here on Grilling at the Green.
Speaker G:Ready for a new ride.
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Speaker G:Oregon's all time leader in Kia sales.
Speaker G: Everyone wins at Westin: Speaker B:hey everybody, JT here.
Speaker B:If you need something to practice with in the inclement weather, try birdie ball.
Speaker B:Go to birdieball.com check out the actual birdie balls, their packages, their putting greens, which I happen to have a couple of those and they work great.
Speaker B:Birdieball.com.
Speaker B:Welcome back and thanks for listening to our special from the Portland Golf show featuring Women's Day.
Speaker B:It was a great show.
Speaker B:If you've never been to it.
Speaker B:If you live in this area, please attend next year.
Speaker B:And I would recommend going to any of the Portland golf shows, especially the ones produced by Varsity Communications.
Speaker A:Plans going forward.
Speaker F:Yes.
Speaker A:What are you working on for the oga?
Speaker A:We got a couple minutes left here.
Speaker F:Yeah.
Speaker A:Every time year goes past, we all in the golf business look back and say, you know, this and that.
Speaker A:You're kind of new to this aspect of it, but what have you looked at so far?
Speaker A:And say, you know what, I think we can do this over here and make it this much better.
Speaker F:Yeah, we have a lot going on in the pipeline.
Speaker F:We've got, we're going to start the USNDP Team Oregon, the United States Development Program, which will be great.
Speaker F:The USGA has taken the lead on that and we're going to get on board.
Speaker F:That'll be coming next year.
Speaker F:We're going to introduce that.
Speaker F:And then the biggest thing is fundraising and subsidizing rounds for youth on course.
Speaker F:So the Oregon Golf association, we subsidize all those rounds.
Speaker F:So we're looking at a possible Pro Am next year to fundraise for that.
Speaker F:We've got our saving car event at the end of this year to fundraise for that with a cool guest speaker, tbd.
Speaker F:I don't think I can announce it yet.
Speaker A:Can tell me.
Speaker A:I won't tell you.
Speaker F:Okay, well, I'll tell you later.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Yeah, as long as I get invited to the Pro Am.
Speaker F:Okay, you're in.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker F:Yeah, you can, you can be in there.
Speaker A:I'll bring a sponsor with me or something.
Speaker F:Okay, great.
Speaker F:You're definitely in.
Speaker A:I know how that works.
Speaker F:Yeah, you got that down.
Speaker F:What else are we doing?
Speaker F:I mean, we got the license plates coming to fruition at the end of April.
Speaker F:Everyone's been emailing me, when are the license plates coming out soon.
Speaker C:Two weeks.
Speaker F:You'll get an email from me or.
Speaker F:Yeah, from me.
Speaker A:So make those in the prison system where they stamp them out.
Speaker A:I don't know.
Speaker A:You don't know?
Speaker A:I don't know.
Speaker A:I just.
Speaker A:I just am curious because that's what they used to be.
Speaker D:Really?
Speaker F:Yeah.
Speaker A:They had a machine.
Speaker F:Oh, my gosh.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Didn't you know that?
Speaker E:No.
Speaker F:Yeah.
Speaker A:That's how they used to make license
Speaker F:plates now, you know.
Speaker A:And they used to make clothing in prisons too.
Speaker A:But I digress.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:That is not from first hand knowledge, by the way.
Speaker A:That is just.
Speaker A:I read it in a book.
Speaker D:Sure.
Speaker A:But you got.
Speaker A:You got the plates coming out.
Speaker A:Anything else?
Speaker F:No, that's.
Speaker A:That's a lot.
Speaker F:All those.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's a lot.
Speaker A:That's a lot.
Speaker F:But it's great.
Speaker F:So all for a good pause so
Speaker A:that it's been good to kind of step into civilian life for you.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker F:It's nice.
Speaker A:I know this is.
Speaker A:This is not your first quote trade show, but I think it's the first time you've been not a tour player and been in a show like Portland.
Speaker A:What's your take?
Speaker F:I like it.
Speaker F:It's fun.
Speaker F:I've.
Speaker F:No, I've never been to a golf TV show before.
Speaker A:Really?
Speaker F:This is my first one.
Speaker F:Yeah.
Speaker F:I've never been to the PGA show.
Speaker F:It's fun.
Speaker F:I've enjoyed it.
Speaker F:I'm just chatting with people.
Speaker F:They're just stopping by the booth and taking all the candy fun.
Speaker A:That's.
Speaker A:I can stick my hat through the curtain because her booth is right behind ours and I can stay.
Speaker A:Fill it up, fill it up, fill it up.
Speaker A:Milky Way, Milky Ways.
Speaker A:That's my deal right there.
Speaker A:Caroline.
Speaker A:That's great.
Speaker A:Are we about out of time?
Speaker A:We're running.
Speaker C:Oh,
Speaker A:we got that much left?
Speaker A:We're that much over.
Speaker A:Oh, okay.
Speaker A:I can't.
Speaker A:I got these on.
Speaker A:I can't hear because he's not talking into his microphone.
Speaker A:8, 7, 59.
Speaker A:Anyway, I'm so happy that you stopped by to see us.
Speaker F:Thanks for having me.
Speaker A:You will be a permanent resident on this show.
Speaker C:Perfect.
Speaker F:Happy to be here anytime.
Speaker A:All that.
Speaker A:We're going to be back tomorrow here at the Portland Expo for the Portland Golf show put on by Varsity Communications.
Speaker A:I'd like to thank my guest today, Monica Olson from Little Bird, the Portland Classic.
Speaker A:Dr. Lisa Ports from Funky Mulligan.
Speaker A:We've got Marianne Robinson, past president of the LPGA Amateur association here in Portland.
Speaker A:Kat Gerrish.
Speaker A:What a character she is.
Speaker A:Which we're going to have a lot of fun together going down the road.
Speaker A:I know that.
Speaker A:And then, of course, Carolyn Inglis, former tour player and now executive, working up to the real title.
Speaker A:But at at the oga and it's been great.
Speaker A:And I'll thank our sponsors, too.
Speaker A:Real quick.
Speaker A:Obviously, Weston Kia from the Weston Way.
Speaker A:And to all, not a body where quality is never an accident.
Speaker A:And Snell golf and Parsley golf and Birdie ball and Painted Hills natural beef squares.
Speaker A:Golf shoes.
Speaker A:And these little guys pretty rap.
Speaker A:I think I got everything in there.
Speaker A:I think I did.
Speaker F:Do I have time to say one more thing?
Speaker A:You can say whatever you want.
Speaker F:Where I thought of one more thing.
Speaker F:We're doing.
Speaker F:If you've ever wanted to play in the band and Dune Solstice, we are doing a raffle right now for it.
Speaker F:You can buy tickets on our website.
Speaker F:They're a hundred dollars and you win an entire foursome.
Speaker F:And lodging in the band and Tulsa's raffle in the van and Solstice event in June.
Speaker C:So go.
Speaker F:Bye.
Speaker F:And all the money goes to the juniors.
Speaker F:Do it for the kids, guys.
Speaker F:A hundred dollars is a steal.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:We'll push that more on shows.
Speaker F:Great.
Speaker A:Okay, Great.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker C:Thank you.
Speaker A:You're welcome.
Speaker A:Until tomorrow, folks, thank you.
Speaker A:From the live from the Portland Golf Show.
Speaker A:I'm JT with Carolyn, Pete, Neil, the whole crew here.
Speaker A:We'll see you tomorrow.
Speaker A:Take care.
Speaker B: f Shows featuring Women's Day: Speaker B:I'm JT.
Speaker B:Thank you for listening very much.
Speaker B:Don't forget to check out our website@grillingatthegreen.net, either one will get you to where we're at.
Speaker B:And also the Golf Newsnet and Golf Newsnet Radio.
Speaker B:We're on there, too.
Speaker B:Until next time, go out, have some fun, play some golf.
Speaker B:But most importantly, be kind.
Speaker B:Grilling at the Green is produced by
Speaker A:JTSD Productions, LLC in association with Salem Media Group.
Speaker A:All rights reserve.