Susan Strange, Mandy Snedeker, Ellie Day, Jan Jacobsen -- these are just some of the women that author Janet Thompson interviews for her new book -- The Golfer's Wife.
In this episode, we discuss Janet's new book, her experience with interviewing the women married to professional players, and Golf's impact on their lives. Janet also shares her experience as the wife of a recreational golfer, her love-hate relationship with the sport, and how it became such an important part of her life.
In her book, she weaves through these topics with the goal of sharing a tale of personal experience with the enlightenment of insight into what it means to share a spouse with life as a professional golfer.
You won/t want to miss this episode with Janet Thompson.
Susan Strange, Mandy Snedeker, Ellie Day, Jan Jacobsen -- these are just some of the women that author Janet Thompson interviews for her new book -- The Golfer's Wife.
In this episode, we discuss Janet's new book, her experience with interviewing the women married to professional players, and Golf's impact on their lives. Janet also shares her experience as the wife of a recreational golfer, her love-hate relationship with the sport, and how it became such an important part of her life.
In her book, she weaves through these topics with the goal of sharing a tale of personal experience with the enlightenment of insight into what it means to share a spouse with life as a professional golfer.
You won/t want to miss this episode with Janet Thompson.
Good afternoon and welcome to our show. We're talking golf. My name is Douglas Maida, and I'm your host. Now, how many times have you watched a PGA tournament, and come Sunday afternoon, the player who's holding the trophy aloft is often flanked by his wife and children. In their remarks, they thank their spouses and the members of their team, whether it be caddies, coaches, trainers, or parents. It happens so frequently that we have gotten to know the names of many of these people. In today's episode, we will be joined by Janet Thompson. Janet has authored a book that looks at the Golfer's Wife, sharing her experiences as the wife of an avid recreational player. But it is not just a book about her experiences. She interviews women who are married to professional players, players that you will know from watching golf on a regular basis. Players like Jason Day, Peter Jacobsen, Curtis Strange, D.A. Weibring Mark Lye, Charley Hoffman and Brandt Snedeker. While the golfing public is far more familiar with the stories of the husbands, Janet's book introduces us to the other half of the partnership. The women that coordinate much of their husband's lives, coordinating the family life, and sharing in both the emotional highs and lows. In many cases, these very same women are actively participating, if not leading the charitable foundation set up in their names or in support of their causes. But before we get to our guest, we will take a very short break, so please stay with us. Welcome back to the show. Thanks for staying with us. Our guest today is Janet Thompson. She's the author of The Golfer's Wife, Janet lives in Florida with her husband, Steve, where they enjoy golfing, hiking, biking, and spending time with their grandchildren. Janet is joining us via zoom from her home in Florida. Welcome to the show, Janet.
Janet Thompson:Thank you, Douglas.
Douglas Maida:We're very pleased to have you and glad you could be here with us. Let's get right into this. I want to ask you what motivated you to write a book on golf?
Janet Thompson:Well, I knew a lot of wives or other significant others would relate to being with a person in golf. And it was my hope that by sharing my story that I could help other people navigate through the course. And it's definitely very challenging. Maybe take some tips that I have that I've learned along the way and important lessons to enhance their lives. and make it easier and stead of going the hard way that I went.
Douglas Maida:Yeah. Okay, you mentioned that being a hard way, how did you? What are some of those hard experiences or experiences that you referred to as being hard and difficult?
Janet Thompson:Well, I think, um, the experience difficulties, I learned firsthand when my husband played golf on our honeymoon. And I realized, you know, he was really good at the sport. But at the time, when he took the first swing, I thought, Oh, this looks like fun, I should play. And then I didn't realize that it was really a game that required a lot of skill, not only physically, but mentally itwas huge mentally.
Douglas Maida:Did you have a sense then, that golf was going to become a really big part of your life?
Janet Thompson:In our I was still newly married? I had no idea. Big Surprise. You know, very, very challenging. Yeah.
Douglas Maida:Yeah, I can appreciate that. I can appreciate that. So Janet, at what point did you decide that you wanted to write a theme about women's golf? I mean, being the golfers wife and sharing your experiences? I mean, was there any sort of event or a point in time or in life that you thought, you know, what, I've experienced a lot? I should I should write a book about this? Well,
Janet Thompson:Actually, yes. I, you know, it probably, it's probably been in the works for over 13 years. And it was my story that I started like, 10 years ago, and then I, I would just get up in the morning, because it was frustrating. I didn't know exactly the discipline to turn into a book. I felt like, there wasn't anything like it on the market to help me. And I thought, well, you know, if I'm going through the same thing, and I talked to so many other golfers wives, and I'm thinking like this should be written. And then just it progressed, you know, into this key idea. And finally, I just did it. And then we added on the professional golfers wives.
Douglas Maida:How did that come about that you decided to approach the wives of some of the professional players?
Janet Thompson:You know, after I kind of wrote my story, I felt like, there should be something more. And since watching golf on TV, I realized that wonder what went on in their lives. And so I talked, presented my idea to a friend of mine. And she loved it. Her name was Sue Ray. And she set me up with my first professional golfers bike interview. And then from there, the others just came into the book.
Douglas Maida:Well, that's a neat story there. Thank you. You mentioned your honeymoon. And your husband, Steve picking up a golf club and playing golf on your honeymoon. That might sound strange to others. But anybody who's married to a golfer has golfer in their life would not be surprised at that at all.
Janet Thompson:Yeah, no. Well, he's he had told me that he said, Oh, it's a beautiful day, you could ride in the cart. And I thought, oh, okay, chance to see the, you know, the beauty, the nature, you know, and then I, you know, I saw him and he just like, bam, and the caddy was really impressed. We were in Cancun, Mexico, and it was just like, you know, one thing after another, and I was like, Oh, this looks like easy. I can I could do this. You know,
Douglas Maida:Prior to meeting your husband, did you ever have cause to pick up a golf club? Or was that kind of your introduction to it?
Janet Thompson:Well, actually, my brother John, he was a caddy. And we lived across the street from the Hinsdale golf course in near, you know, Chicago, Illinois, and he would come home with boatloads of money and a lot of funny stories. And being I was I'm one of seven children. So, you know, money was always tight. And we didn't belong to the country club, but he caddied there. So we just come home with these stories. And I think the idea never came across my mind. I mean, we could pick up a tennis racket but not a golf club. I mean, you needed to belong to a club or, or, you know, have some parent influence and my dad was not a golfer.
Douglas Maida:So your experience with Golf was your brother?
Janet Thompson:Well, brother just but caddy, but then I had no idea. And I think my brother played a little bit then as a caddy, but nothing, you know, was brought home does, you know teach us
Douglas Maida:right, right. I grew up on a golf course as a kid too. So that was our summer activity. And I'm sure your brother would have had little stories and things he could share even more so about life as a caddy and
Janet Thompson:Oh, yeah, some you can tell and some you can't.
Douglas Maida:Exactly.
Janet Thompson:Yeah, yeah.
Douglas Maida:Is it a fair assessment, Janet to say that you decided to pick up the sport because it was a way of being able to share an activity with Steve?
Janet Thompson:Oh, abs? Absolutely, um, you know, as newly married and you know, wanted to do more activities together and bond over? And I said, Sure, I can try, you know, and he actually even built me my first set of clubs, because that was kind of became a little hobby of his. And, you know, I would try, he was very good teacher, usually, husbands and wives have this little battle going on whether or not you should take lessons from your husband. But Steve is very patient. And I think the problem came once we joined a club that we saw other people and he'd like, say to me, you know, enough about another friend of mine would like, oh, so and so the swing is natural. And I'm like, what's mine? You know, like, it was like, in my, you know, so unusual. And so I really tried to really, really tried hard. And, and I still yesterday, we played, in fact, you know, so it's a continual, you know, one day you love it next day, not so much.
Douglas Maida:What's your most memorable experience of playing golf with your husband?
Janet Thompson:Oh, always, always the time that I beat him on a hole straight up. That's very memorable.
Douglas Maida:Great. So that's kind of like, local bragging rights in the family
Janet Thompson:effort. Yeah. Oh, yeah, absolutely.
Douglas Maida:Do you play a little games with your husband about that in terms of okay, if I, for every holy beat you? Oh,
Janet Thompson:that's a Bakradze backgrounds? Yes. Yes. We do that all the time. Yeah, you got to rub my back tonight. And, yeah. But no big wages every once in a while, we'll throw out some money. And he you know, it's kind of like a joke about the money issue. But you know, nobody bets big, you know, we're retired, we're retired for the most part.
Douglas Maida:So I was gonna say perhaps the most extravagant would be who's buying lunch?
Janet Thompson:Oh, yeah. No, no, no.
Douglas Maida:Do you ever play with your husband in terms of keeping score with strokes, handicaps and things like that? We
Janet Thompson:do. But usually, if I'm playing, like, good on a hole, obviously, I know what I'm getting. But if let's say I've dropped the ball, because I knew I could hit it better. And I kind of, you know, fudged a little bit, and I'm not counting the strokes, and we're not playing with anybody, then he'll, he'll kind of tell me the score, because he's so good at playing competitively, that he already knows my score before I before I can even go back to beginning stroke and count it. He knows, you know, and I might say, Oh, I got a seven on that hole. It goes, well, you kind of got an eight or an eight, you know, or you got a nine. And it's like, well, I was in counting those two that I hid in the woods. You know,
Douglas Maida:you mentioned in your book, Janet about playing for fun. It's obviously not a competitive sport. It's it's intended your participation was Steve is intended to be spending time together, enjoying each other's company being outside enjoying your surroundings and a little bit of the the couple camaraderie that goes on. How important was it to you and still is to you in terms of having the ability just to relax the rules, that you're here for fun, that it's not about, you know, you didn't mark your ball properly, you know, that's a stroke penalty or things of that nature?
Janet Thompson:Well, I know I can always do with my husband, it's when you start to play with other people. And then it's kind of like, oh, I guess I really should keep score, like, and, and so it depends who you're playing with. And obviously, I was in a nine hole League, I was briefly in 18 hole lake. So keeping score, and you want to be honest, because Golf is a game of integrity. And it's, but when you're so frustrated, that you want to focus in on, okay, this is how I'm hitting, I have to stand correctly to get the swing path is so correct, you know, correctly and it's it's not a natural motion. You know, walking is natural, the golf swing, you know, it's not natural. So you're focused on other things other than keeping that that number in your head. And so I think If you bend the rules a little bit, you can make it more fun. But then you have to tell everybody like, hey, you know, I might keep my score I might not. And they'll be okay with it.
Douglas Maida:Did you find playing in your nine hole leak now was that a exclusively for women or was that just for people that were newer to golf, or
Janet Thompson:while the nine hole league is if somebody wants to play golf, and they want to just see what it's like, joining a nine hole League is a great way because they're usually the club would have some rules that are more flexible for the nine haulers versus the 18. haulers, those are more Howard cards, you know, and somebody would start the nine hole and move up to the 18. But when you're in the nine hole League, in, they do count the strokes, but the good news about that is usually they have a limit. So other than on championship day, so the maximum strokes per hole anyone could take would be like 10 or 11. So that you can stop as I call it bleeding, and move on to the next hole. No, because you wouldn't want to write down 15 an hour. And that's possible. That's totally possible if you hit kept hitting him in the pond, and but on championship day, everything counts. So you could get that horrible, horrible, horrible score and just, you know, let it psych yourself out and take away all your fun.
Douglas Maida:How was your experience with your playing partners? I read in your book a little bit that you talk about those first tee anxieties, which Every golfer has, when they walk up to the tee with a group they haven't really met before, even with a group they even with a group they played with before just knowing that there's other people watching? How did you? Why don't you explain your experience with that and the group you play with? And
Janet Thompson:yeah, the group that I I mean, the nine hollers that I played with, it really got to be fun. Because we were just, you know, we knew each other's game. And, you know, it's like, we wanted the best for each other. We weren't competing against each other. We're just, it was us in the course. So we're trying to like slay the dragon, so to speak, and everybody were cheering each other on if you hit over that time, you know, and if you got in the pond, it was kind of like, Okay, let's try this again. But what I found to in in the 18 hole League, the time that I was on, I was assigned a group that, you know, she was the Club Championship champion that year, and they had never played with me. And this was the first time going out with them. And they said, well, Janet, can you play a little faster? And I'm thinking to myself, Oh, my gosh, I so would if the ball would advance farther, I could play really fast, you know. And so I was torn between throwing my club at her or saying something bad, or just trying to, you know, put on that happy face, you know. And, um, but you know what, it was fine. I got through the round. And, you know, ended up having surgery on my elbow two days later, because I like trudge through a little bit of pain. And I've just finished so that I didn't feel bad. So, so I think it depends, you got to find a group that gets you and can bend the rules till you feel really confident in your skills. That's what I think.
Douglas Maida:Yeah, I understand. Most people that we begin golf, that's where we all start. Mm hmm. Absolutely. Janet, I want to ask you a couple more questions about this. Did you ever find yourself at a point in your life where you started to enjoy the sport on your own terms? I mean, in reading your book, it was something that Steve's golf, initially defined your relationship with golf. And that was the lens you started to see it through. Did you ever at a point arrive at it where it was just you and your passion for golf?
Janet Thompson:Oh, absolutely, I did. Because I wanted to get better just for my own personal benefit. So you have to have that drive from within. But, um, I found when I could play the course in the summer, it'll Florida by myself. I just felt like I was enjoying the nature and everything else about it. And if I didn't hit a good shot, let's say one hole, but I knew I could do better. I would just drop another ball down and hit the ball. So all of a sudden, I was playing, you know, Nike against Pinnacle against title list. And the most challenging thing was to keep track of where the balls meant. Because, you know, I had a course I had an endless supply in my bag. And but that was really Fun and probably the course of you know, playing 18 holes. I'm actually playing like 72 holes of golf because I'm playing with free balls, you know, or something. So that was when I felt like, you know, I really, really, really honed my game better. Not that I'm anti social, but it is it is a fun way to play if you can.
Douglas Maida:I'm I agree with you completely, you know, in your book, in one section you wrote about the Gulf becoming a cult like membership. What I wanted to ask you was, were you ever at a point in time where you felt like you were starting to flirt with the idea of becoming a cult member in golf?
Janet Thompson:Well, when I when I decided to stay in the nine hole League, join the 18 hole League, and then play one or two days a week with my husband four days a week, oh my gosh, that was a lot of golf. And, you know, I stayed in the 18 hole league really just like one day, and I realized, I'm not at that level, and I didn't want that, you know, that hanging over my head or feeling nervousness. So, um, you know, I so then I got out of it. And I just realized, for me personally, I just really enjoy, you know, playing more with the nine holders and making it more fun. You know, in couples, golf to me is the best if you can do that couples golf, and they, they make all these different tournaments. That's really, really fun.
Douglas Maida:So a lot of the social aspects of it as well.
Janet Thompson:Yeah, and the handicap system, but the handicap system with the dots, I mean, you're on an even playing level, I, you know, give me all the dots on my card, because I need all that extra help I can get and that's why I think that makes golfing more fun.
Douglas Maida:Well, I think golf is one of the only sports where you can handicap where you can handicap so players of different skill levels can play together on a fairly level playing field and can have a fun time.
Janet Thompson:Now I have to tell you a little story right now by the hand the word handicap on a golf scorecard. Okay, so I'm walking to this bookstore in the media store to pick up some media poster, and a girl comes running it to me. She goes, you're the author of this book? And I said, Yes. She goes, I have to tell you, you just wrote my whole life story. I'm getting married in a couple months to a pro golfer. And I was like, what? And she said yes. And she said, I didn't know anything about golf. She's got a lot to learn.
Douglas Maida:Well, I'm sure she'll learn quickly.
Janet Thompson:Absolutely. Absolutely.
Douglas Maida:Janet, we're gonna take a short break for a couple of messages. And when we come back, let's talk a little bit more about the book itself and the women of the PGA some of the women you spoke with, and some of the things that you take away from from that experience.
Janet Thompson:Okay, great, thank you.
Douglas Maida:Alright, we're back. Thank you for staying with us. We're with author Janet Thompson, who's written a book called the golfers wife. Now, Janet, you feature quite a few professional players wives are the wisest and professional players, a very impressive list of women. How was it that you came to include I mean, you briefly touched about it with your friends Sue, but was there a certain thought process that went in mind and and in helping you formulate the ideas of correlating or or sharing the experiences of the professional wives and the experiences of golfer his wife,
Janet Thompson:and I want them to get a diverse group of golfers wives, professional golfers wives to be in the book. And I felt like getting different age groups, different levels of the golfers themselves that played and I was really excited. I mean, that was a long process because I only got introduced to the first one And procuring the others really was a course of three years of between interviews and getting them some took like, six, seven months to get. Because you had to go through their, their manager, their publicist, etc, and then you finally get to them. And then they kind of talk to you over the phone, and they decide, you know, Hey, I like this project, and, and then go with it. And when I interviewed, le de, Jason de was the number one golfer in the world. So I was really excited to get her take on it. And she's, you know, one of the younger women and, you know, full of energy. And she really had a great story. And I was so thrilled to have her in the book and along with the others, because you just don't know what goes on behind the scenes.
Douglas Maida:Yeah, terrific. And you do have quite an impressive list of, of women, you know, le de jan Jacobson, Mandy Snedeker, and quite a few others. So why don't you share with us what your experience was like, when you're interviewing these women? I mean, how did you find that process? Was it kind of like interviewing some celebrities in your mind in terms of Oh, wow, I'm excited and, and things of that nature?
Janet Thompson:Well, at first, I was really nervous about it, because I didn't know how willing they would be to share their life stories. And, you know, a lot of those very, very personal and so I promised them that I would not publish anything that they didn't approve of, you know, or if they said, Hey, Jana, can this be off the record? 100%. So I wanted them to totally trust me, and feel they could be candid. But if they said something that they didn't want published, then I was okay with it, too.
Douglas Maida:What was your experience? Like when you're sitting down with them? I think it was most of these interviews over the phone, or did you have the occasion to meet any of them in person? Well,
Janet Thompson:actually, I had the pleasure of interviewing several of them in person. And actually interviewing right in my Naples home here. Jan Jacobson, was one of the first and she came right over to my house. And then, and it was, you know, an honor, I was a little nervous. I'm, I'm on the sixth floor, and I'm looking down in the parking lot. And I'm like, Oh, my gosh, that's Jan Jacobson. She's walking to see me. So I'm just kind of thrilled. And just, but they were also so gracious and so sincere. And they all like the concept. So I think, just kind of flowed. And then I actually conducted Christie libraries interview at the Jacobson's home. P there, Peter answered the door. And, and, you know, I said, Hi, I'm Janet Thompson. He says, Hi, I'm Peter Jacobsen. I go well, Hi, Peter, nice to meet you. So it just really, really was a really good experience all the way around.
Douglas Maida:Wow. That's, that's a wonderful thing to hear. Let me ask you, then, what were some of the things that impressed you most about these women? I mean, you've got a pretty broad demographic group there in terms of age groups. And you know, as you mentioned, players who've different you know, like you have Curtis strange, who's a two time US Women's, US, US Open champion, you know, two players like Jason de who's currently still playing on the PGA, Charley Hoffman, and players like that. So what did you find? I mean, what impressed you the most about some of these women?
Janet Thompson:Um, you know, I think it was, they're really down to earth, you know, I mean, they have their feet firmly planted on the ground, as Christy had said back to her husband in a quote in the book, and they opened up and shared so much stuff about their lives and interesting, interesting things and funny things, you just, I mean, I was almost, I mean, I was brought to laughter several times during the interviews because they told me like, you know, hey, I don't like to wear my name badge because people talk around me and then they think I know everything about golf, and they're gonna ask me, you know, or, or different stories like, you know, that you think you know, one thing but then somebody else has another idea. So, I think that's really the key, and so much back and forth phone calls during the process. And they became my friends were emailing back and forth and sharing some personal pictures and I'm telling about my grandkids and they're sharing their grandkids or their kids pictures. It's just been a really positive experience all the way around. And plus, now we're raising funds for other charities. Yeah, that's
Douglas Maida:a great story. I'd like to ask you, I'll throw the names of the women out. Can you maybe share a little nugget of your experience or lesson or what impressed you most about the individual in your interview?
Unknown:Absolutely.
Douglas Maida:Let's start with LED.
Janet Thompson:She's just she's, she's her happiest places when she's country dancing, line dancing, and just such a good mom. You know, I just see her with her kids and gentle soul, but fun and energetic.
Douglas Maida:Okay, how about Jen Jacobson?
Janet Thompson:Oh, Jan. She went, I would say she's the one person that was actually playing golf when she first when she met Peter. And actually, that's kind of how they met. And she has the skill level. You know, at that time when she was first playing. That one time Peter actually had to let her go in a she was playing competitive golf. And Peter, she couldn't go to Peter's dance. And so she's just that giving person also in the sense that she's a grandma, but she worked super hard at what she does, and manages households and family so beautifully.
Douglas Maida:Okay, Lisa Lai.
Janet Thompson:Lee says, she was my first interview. And she has also she was interviewed in her Her story is so great with trying to support juvenile diabetes type one. And not only does her husband habit that her son has it too, and I see her working so diligently to try to help raise money for that cause and that's what impresses me about her.
Douglas Maida:Christy, we why bring Oh, Christine.
Janet Thompson:She, um, she's very fun. And I interviewed her at at Jan's house. And she also had been experience with childhood cancer. Her daughter had gotten cancer, but now is in remission, thank goodness. And they started this charity nama Kayla's Foundation, give back and it's a group of dancers actually, even that helped raise more funds for that charity. And just really, really, really a nice person.
Douglas Maida:Stacy Hoffman,
Janet Thompson:oh, Stacy. She's a probably again, on the younger, younger side and totally fun. I think one of the funniest stories, she said her child got known, because she was known as Claire Hoffman's mom, not, you know, not, you know, man, you know, Stacy Hawkman. And it was funny, because she's the one that doesn't like to wear the name badge, and she would hear comments on the golf course. You know, like, initially, Charlie had long hair, and she'd heard these comments of like, oh, he, he's a surfer guy, and he probably smokes a lot of weed and does all these things. And it and she turns around and looks at the person is like, Hey, I'm his wife. You know, it's like, you just get that that on the golf golf press, because you never know who you're standing next to when you're watching at a tournament. So I tell people, be careful. Be careful what you say. Because you don't know who's next to you.
Douglas Maida:And Charlie's. Charlie's well known for wearing his trucker style hats, you know, the beat. They even have. Yeah, I was gonna say they even have a style called the Charlie Hoffman style of golf cap.
Janet Thompson:At one event, they actually went to one of his biggest fans dressed up just like him and actually asked to take a picture with Charlie. So it was kind of a really nice, a nice treat for them to meet somebody that was really big fan.
Douglas Maida:Mandy Snedeker
Janet Thompson:Mandy oh, gosh, she She's really nice. They have such a good charity in Nashville. And, you know, she's a country girl at heart, you can tell and even the story of how brand her net it's just really, really heartwarming. She kind of gave up her career to support him. But you know what, it was the like the loving thing to do and A lot of funny stories with those two lot of funny stories.
Douglas Maida:And last but definitely not least, Sarah strange,
Janet Thompson:Sara strange. She was also an in person interview. And I probably got to know Sarah, the best, I think, because we did so much editing to her stories back and forth to get it really correct. And she definitely touched my heart in a lot of ways. You know, she worked so hard to get the crystal host Hospice House, in to be part of the, one of the charities, they actually built it from nothing. And to me, that was so so impressive. And, and then we kind of bonded over breast cancer and a couple of things. And she's right in the Naples area. So um, so when I dropped off her book, her husband was home, and I handed it to Curtis. And I think he's so proud of his wife, too, you know, so really great family.
Douglas Maida:It sounds like there's lots of opportunity, on the lighter side to maybe, perhaps sit back, crack open a bottle of wine and enjoy some good conversation and discussion. I'm not, that's not a stretch, is it?
Janet Thompson:Oh, not at all? Not at all. No, no, it's really, really a fun way to go. You know,
Douglas Maida:Janet, your book is a blend of your experiences as the golfers wife, and the professional women. Owing to the fact that there's a bit of a difference between, say, Steven yourself playing recreationally. And then these women and their husbands playing professionally? How much of their experiences do you see in your own life and in your own situations? And is there a fair bit of crossover or shared similarity of shared experiences or sentiment,
Janet Thompson:oh, that's, that's what I kind of found, through doing this whole process. I didn't realize how many similarities there actually are. But it's just on a different scale. Because let's say for example, I go out and watch my husband playing a golf tournament. And usually it's on the back nine, because, you know, I don't want to, you know, make it be so distracting or whatever. But he'll, you know, allow me to come on the last day back nine. And there might be 10, spectators tops watching. And then for the professionals, oh my gosh, there's hundreds in the, you know, in the stands, and then there's all this all the people watching on TV. So they have a lot more, you know, there's the difference right there. But then, if you look at the feelings that I have, when I'm watching Steve, of course, I want him to win. Even Even if I don't want to polish all those trophies, I want him to win. And, of course, the professional golfers wives, you know, they want their husbands to win to, but it's their job. It's his income. And so if my husband loses the tournament, it's not gonna affect our rank. But it does affect theirs. And so that's the difference right there on a grander scale. And then they also have to, you know, keep up image. So they're constantly being bombarded. And I recall when Jason was a number one golfer in the world, and Ellie love that time, but she said he was being pulled in so many directions. So if my husband wins the tournament, you know, he's not pulled in any direction. I just get bragging rights for a year, you know, but, but Jason here, he wins so big. And he's being pulled by all this media. And they expect him to play every tournament, they expect him to make all these appearances. So I don't have to share my husband when he wins, but they do. You know, there's the difference. Just grand scale. Makes sense?
Douglas Maida:In your book, you wrote the following. Had she read a book like this before she started playing the game, it would have made a difference in her love hate relationship with golf? How would you? How would things have been different? Had you read your book before? Or had you known those things before?
Janet Thompson:I probably wouldn't have been so hard on myself in the beginning, because I really, like felt frustrated. And I know, it seems like at times, you know, when I was not playing bad, I'm looking for the beer card girl or to have a drink or something on the course. And it's true. I mean, I I wanted to just relax and feel calm about it because I knew if I played more relaxed, my shots would probably go you know farther and be more crisp. But I think I had to give myself permission to just like, accept my game. And as soon as I accepted the level of my skill, it just made it so much better. You know, and, and knowing, you know what groups to play with? And, you know, you have good days and bad days, some days you should, you can be hitting the driver so well, and other days not so well. And you should get the croquet mallet out. I mean, seriously, you know, what do you do? You know, but like I said, once in a while, everything is aligned, you're putting good, you're driving good, and you get that great score. And then you end up in the bar adding up the scores like I do. And I told myself one day, if I if I, you know, broke 100 I could have that Margarita at the end of the round. You know, and, and thank goodness, I did you know, double check by scoring because of golf is a game of integrity.
Douglas Maida:And did you? Did you set a goal for say breaking 90?
Janet Thompson:Oh, I don't think that's going to happen. Unless, unless by unless by some miracle that I'm playing a miniature golf course.
Douglas Maida:Well, I was gonna say we have a, there's a bit of a common joke in golf about a golfer shooting 69 The only difference is they do that on nine holes versus
Janet Thompson:Ah, yes, that's that is true. That is true, right? Yeah, sometimes my nine year old score is my husband's 18 hole score, which is a little sad, but it's okay.
Douglas Maida:But it's good fun.
Janet Thompson:Absolutely.
Douglas Maida:Jim, let me ask you, are there any sort of last thoughts that you would like to share before we start to wrap up,
Janet Thompson:um, you know, I would really like to thank my friend, Sue Rhea, because she liked my idea, and just kind of was my cheerleader along the way. And also, I'd like to thank my editor, Laura Matthews, she was almost like talking to Ellen DeGeneres, because she just made me laugh all the time. And her actually voice sounds like her. So when I first met her, I was like, you know, I was like, talking to, so she just made it fun. And she made got the writing to make sure my writing could be really read by even a non golfer, and I think that person would understand golf.
Douglas Maida:Great. Anyone else you might want to? Or any other thoughts?
Janet Thompson:You know, I think, um, I like, I'm really glad that I was able to give an opportunity for all the professional golfers five to choose charities, and that they really felt close to their heart. And I'm really, really happy to say that, you know, a lot of these charities I like a lot that really, really are amazing that you hadn't heard that hadn't heard about before. And they're all so worthwhile causes that I'm so pleased that anyone that buys the book is actually giving back to these charities.
Douglas Maida:Right? You mentioned that some of the proceeds are going to the charities. Are you just dividing that up by equal percentage or an equal amount? Yeah,
Janet Thompson:I am. I did. Book, my release date is April 5. But right now you can get it from the publisher directly amplify. And, of course, obviously, more goes to proceeds. But then I just took a chance on myself, and had 512 copies mailed to me. And I tell myself, if I sell these books, the 100% will go to all these charities. So yeah, so I have an accountant, we're keeping track. And then we'll just make that all go to the seven charities.
Douglas Maida:You mentioned April 5. So that's when the print copy is going to be available and in stores, bookstores and places
Janet Thompson:in bookstores on Amazon, and Barnes and Nobles. All the major chains will have it. And I hope it does really well.
Douglas Maida:Great. Are you planning any sorts of book tours or any other additional speaking engagements, things like that?
Janet Thompson:Now, it's up to my marketing manager -- Skye. She's working really hard to get me Get me some jobs lined up and I'm excited to do it all.
Douglas Maida:Oh, wonderful. One other thing I'd like to ask about that. April 5, that's the week of the masters. Was it a conscious choice to look at that as release date? Or was that just something that coincidental
Janet Thompson:and thank you I think the luck but a little coincidence, I think, too, because originally I was trying to get this book published by Christmas because it makes a really great gift book. But um, we had, you know, all sorts of supply chains issues with paper shortages and workers and, you know, this COVID thing on top of everything. So I, you know, I'm really glad that it's finally out and people see it and just just lucky and I hope the masters will be a great tournament as it always is.
Douglas Maida:And a wonderful opportunity to, to get it out there. Well, interesting. Golf seems to be at its highest every year.
Janet Thompson:Oh, yeah. Yeah, I think I think my, my color of my book covers the same as the green jacket.
Douglas Maida:Oh, that's terrific. Wonderful. So what's next for you, Janet? Just any, you're going to do, perhaps some public engagements, PR engagements, things like that. But any plans for ideas for another book or anything of that nature?
Janet Thompson:I will stop is always rattling around in my head. I'm just going to surprise you.
Douglas Maida:Okay, and what's your next playing in any mix social events with Steve.
Janet Thompson:And well, we don't have anything lined up right now. We're going to head back in May back to the I'm going to be doing a lot of my other volunteer job in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. So it's the gondola company is a great place if you ever get to the New England states in Portsmouth. And that's a nonprofit, and I'm a deckhand there. So totally opposite my golfing. And I'm doing ropes and swabbing the deck and teaching school aged children about the environment and the action and their impact on the environment.
Douglas Maida:Oh, terrific. Terrific. So a never ending list of activities for you.
Janet Thompson:Never ending. Absolutely. But I do want to thank you. Go ahead.
Douglas Maida:Well, thank you for joining us. We appreciate you taking the time, Janet. It's looking like it's a really good read. And we hope that it looks like you're gonna have a really great launch as well. So thanks for joining us. That's wonderful. Hopefully, you'll get to play some more rounds of golf. And if we're ever done that way, we'll definitely send you a message and say, Hey, let's get out there.
Janet Thompson:Absolutely. You're always welcome on my boat. Thank you.
Douglas Maida:Thank you so much. Thanks, Janet. Okay, take care.
Janet Thompson:Thank you. Bye.
Douglas Maida:And that ladies and gentlemen wraps up our show for today. Thank you very much for joining us, and we will see you again shortly. And remember, if you are out there playing golf, try to keep your golf ball on the short grass.
Amy (Studio):You have been listening to our podcast show. We're talking golf produced by the world of golf. This episode was recorded on Friday, March 25 2022. If you have an idea for a future show, please send us an email to info at World of golf.org Please include podcast show in the subject line. This show is the copyright of the world of golf. Thank you for joining us