Shortly after Jackie Booth started coaching the UNM women's golf team, she approached local car dealer and philanthropist Don Chalmers about becoming a booster.
"I told him, 'I want you to go home and think about what you can do for women,'" Booth said. "He came back and told me that 80 percent of choices about buying cars is made by women. So he wanted to do this for them."
And the Don Chalmers Golf Clinic for Women was born.
Now in its seventh year, the clinic, which is free to all participants, has helped more than 1,000 women of all skill levels learn the fundamentals of the game, Booth said. The three-day event, which this year ran Aug. 30 and 31 and will conclude Sept. 6, features "a lot of vocal instruction from me, and the (Lobo women's team) takes care of the hands-on part," said the 2002-03 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year.
"I want you to imagine sweeping the floor," Booth told this year's assemblage of about 45 women Sunday, brushing the top of the grass on the practice range at the UNM Championship Course with her pitching-wedge. "I know most of you know how to sweep floors."
Ability is not the only category represented by a broad cross section of clinic-goers.
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Peggy Hall, an Albuquerque retiree who earned two degrees from UNM and is celebrating her 50th homecoming this year, said she has learned that "practice, practice, practice" is the key to succeeding at golf.
"The problem is, when you're young and have the muscles, there's no time or money for golf," Hall said, awaiting her turn for some instruction. "And then when you retire and have the money and time, the old muscles just don't want to cooperate."
Janelle Henderson, a 14-year-old St. Pius High School freshman, said her father plays golf often, so she and her mother came to the clinic to get some pointers.
"I just barely started playing and I've learned that patience is really important," Henderson said. "I'm not usually very good at that."
The women are given "homework" after each of the first two days of instruction - diagrams detailing various elements of the short game - which they take home, study and hopefully retain for the next day's lessons. On Sept. 6 participants will learn about the full swing, Booth said, then take part in a "sidewalk sale," where they can buy authentic Lobo garb and equipment at a discounted price.
Who among UNM's finest women golfers is the best teacher?
"Definitely coach," said junior Kailin Downs, the top-ranked sophomore in the nation last season. "She just does a great job of making it really simple for them."
Junior Christina Spence agreed, saying, "Especially since (Booth) is so used to working with top-level players. It's really cool the way she breaks it down for them."
Booth said all the clinic's funding comes from Chalmers, who is a member of the UNM Foundation and the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education, among other endeavors. Pepsi Co. provides free soft drinks and 770 KOB and MAGIC 99.5 don't charge for advertising the clinic, she said.
"You guys were great," Booth told the women, while handing out raffle prizes in the championship clubhouse. "We'll see you next week."
