Showing posts with label Sports Illustrated. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports Illustrated. Show all posts

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Kim Kouwabunpat: In response to Time.com

"I’m appalled by the ignorance displayed in the recent article written on Time.com about Play Golf Designs Inc. It’s clear that Sean Gregory has failed to do his due diligence in researching what PGD is truly about. The claims he makes of PGD being an “escort service” are offensive, unfair, and completely inaccurate. I personally have hosted several PGD golf outings, and I can assure you that Nisha Sadekar runs her events with class and only the utmost professionalism. We are professional athletes who compete at the highest level and all of us take our professional image very seriously. If you were to profile the 22 athletes on the PGD roster you would find that they consist of former top collegiate golfers from leading Division 1 universities such as Stanford, Duke, UCLA, and University of Texas, former NCAA champions, current LPGA touring professionals, and top developmental tour players. I highly doubt that any one of these professional golfers, whom are very highly respected amongst their peers and colleagues, would ever join or even be associated with an organization that could be construed as an “escort service.”

Why isn’t it ok to dress fashionably and be proud of our femininity without being criticized? A polished, well-rounded look is marketable and a marketable image is good business.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but Gregory probably did not realize that in writing this controversial article, he is jeopardizing the business, careers, and livelihoods of Play Golf Designs and the 22 Professional Golfers on its roster. Since joining PGD in 2006, my career has benefited greatly from the positive exposure and PR provided by Sadekar and PGD. Gregory’s misguided comments are essentially tearing down what we all have worked hard to build within our careers. As a responsible journalist Gregory needs to make sure he knows what he’s talking about before making such ridiculous comments that could negatively impact so many dedicated individuals.

I’ve been an avid competitive golfer since the age of 10. Just by the amazing nature of the game, golf has taught me so many important life values such as hard work, perseverance, determination, etiquette, and most of all, integrity. I see the game as a wonderful educational tool to teach any young person what it means to have class and teach them the same tools golf has taught me throughout my life. I hold onto my morals and values with conviction and would only be associated with outstanding organizations like Play Golf Designs.

I’m proud to be fully involved with Play Golf Designs and support Sadekar in her courageous movement towards a Nouvea World of Women’s Golf. We need people like her to break down barriers and to challenge stagnant stereotypes. I don’t see women’s golf progressing in the right direction at the moment. In the end, we will all be thanking Sadekar and Play Golf Designs for bringing women’s golf to the next level and letting the world see how amazing, beautiful, and strong women can be.
Kim Kouwabunpat
Stanford University
‘04 Ladies Asian Golf Tour
‘07 Duramed Futures Tour
‘05-‘07 CN Canadian Women's Tour '06-'07
Play Golf Designs, Inc.

Friday, November 14, 2008

InGameNow & Sports Illustrated's "World's Hottest Athlete" Contest

Six Play Golf Designs' Professionals have been selected and featured by InGameNow.com and Sports Illustrated/SI.com's World Hottest Athlete Contest. Now it's down to the Elite Eight! With Blair O'Neal and Kim Hall still in the hunt for the top vote, Play Golf Designs looks promising in this contest. Even though Seema Sadekar knocked off Perry Swenson Round 1, Blair swept Seema in Round 2. PGD Professionals' Anna Rawson and Tina Miller swept through their respective Round 1 matches, but when facing off in Round 2, Anna managed to close the deal when the polls were tallied. Blair then won against Anna, but as luck may have it she will now face off against Kim Hall. Kim swept the W7 division bracket, but can she pull through against fellow PGD Professional Blair O'Neal in the Elite Eight? Only one can move on to the Final Four...

You can cast your vote at http://blog.ingamenow.com/ by clicking on VOTE.

Click on image for a full view of the "World's Hottest Athlete" Bracket! Images provided by www.InGameNow.com