It all started several years ago as a joke. Some of the men teased about wanting the opportunity to begin their golf game at the ladies tee box at The Groves golf course.  

“I told them, that the only way they could start at the ladies tee box was if they were wearing skirts,” recalls Marge Merrill. 

That was three years ago. 

Merrill, a resident of The Groves, organizes the Caliente Wednesday Golf Scramble. Each week they golf at different courses, but once a month, they golf at The Groves. 

Last week, a group of 52 men and women came together at The Groves to participate in this unusual golf outing. This was the third year for this event, and everyone seemed to be having a great time. The men enjoyed the advantage on the golf course, and the women enjoyed watching the men struggling to find the proper way to behave in their skirts.

“We have a ball with this,” said Merrill, “it’s a lot of fun and a lots of laughs.”

The selection of skirts was as diverse as the golfers on the course that day.  I saw flowing florals, mini-skirts, a kilt, a poodle skirt and even a grass skirt.  Once the skirts were all admired and adjusted, it was time to climb into the carts and start the course.

The men golfing in skirts got a chance to see the course from a different vantage point, but their struggles with the skirts continued on the course.  The men had many questions like how to bend over to pick up the ball, how to swing around a poodle-skirt, and where do you put your tees when you don’t have pockets? 

After each golf outing, Merrill awards prizes (provided by Caliente Resort) for the lowest score, longest drive and longest putt. This time she also awarded prizes for three of the best skirts to Steve West, Lee Seamen and Bill Schultz. 

Congratulations, ladies, you all looked sensational!  

You might wonder: Did wearing a skirt help the men’s game? 

According to Merrill, the winning team had 14 under par.  Not a bad day, even if they had to wear skirts.