[lg policy] LPGA: Crane puts shine on Solheim Cup

[Harold Schiffman]

Crane puts shine on Solheim Cup


By Todd Lancaster


Over the weekend, much of the golfing world had its eyes trained on
Sugar Grove, Ill., and the 2009 Solheim Cup. And for those with really
good vision, they might even have seen a familiar face — Washington’s
own Chad Crane. Crane is the head PGA professional at Rich Harvest
Farms, the beautiful suburban Chicago course that hosed the LPGA’s
biggest event last week. The Solheim Cup is a team event that pits the
12 best American women against the 12 best Europeans in a three-day
match play event. I got a chance to talk to Crane, a Washington High
graduate and former pro at Country Oaks on Monday, where he said they
were still celebrating the victory for Team USA.

“It was truly the best golf experience I had ever had,” said Crane.
“There were 1,000 people waiting to get on to the course at 6:45 a.m.,
all dressed in red, white and blue. You could hear the chants of ‘USA,
USA’ all over the course.” Crane said they had about right around
30,000 each day of the event and felt like this would be a huge boost
for the LPGA, which has struggled in the last 12 months with shrinking
sponsorship dollars and the backlash of the public relations nightmare
that came from a failed “English only” language policy for its foreign
players.

“After spending time with a lot of these girls, you realize that they
are not only talented but very approachable,” said Crane. “I spent
some time with Michelle Wie, Natalie Gulbis and Europe’s Laura Davies
over the last week. Although these players are very public figures and
spend a lot of time in the spotlight, they couldn’t have been nicer or
more cooperative.”

Crane said the practice range and putting green were his main areas of
responsibility during the event, and gave him a chance to spend a lot
of time around the golfers.

Crane said that it was really interesting to watch the event unfold
over the last few weeks.

“It was great to see how the Solheim cup people worked with the LPGA,
Golf Channel and our staff,” said Crane.

I have another friend in the Fox Valley area, whom I spoke to as well Monday.

He is well-respected amateur up in that area and a former Big 10
collegiate golfer. Generally when he talks about golf, I listen.

He went to a practice round on Thursday with his children and was so
impressed with the caliber of play and course conditions, he went back
on Saturday.

“I would have to say that on Sunday afternoon, Rich Harvest Farms was
the best-conditioned golf course in the world,” he told me. “It was
amazing. I have played that course (a top 100 course) a dozen times
and it was always nice. But over the weekend it was just the best I
have ever seen anywhere on any course.”

Crane said the experience was invaluable for him, as RHF is slated to
host several other big events like the Western Amateur and the Central
Western Junior.

“This is something that I will remember,” said Crane. “And I think it
will really be a tremendous help in pushing the LPGA back. There was
just too much good energy there for that not to happen.”

http://www.washtimesherald.com/sports/local_story_237082203.html
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