http://www.golfdigest.com/gfw/gfwfeatures/index.ssf?/gfw/gfwfeatures/gfw200503bell.html
The GFW Life
It's all good: "Every time I play I have a great time, whether I do
well or not," says Bell (at her home course, Robinson Ranch GC, in
Santa Clarita, Calif.).
Bell of the Ball
On the TV drama JAG, Catherine Bell plays Marine Lieutenant Colonel
Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie. On the course, she plays to win.
By Ann Wycoff
Golf For Women Magazine
Is it true your co-stars on JAG taught you to play golf?
Yes. David James Elliott [who plays Commander Harmon "Harm" Rabb] is a
golf junkie. During my second season on the show in 1998, there was a
JAG golf tournament. I had never played before, but the guys were like,
"C'mon, you've gotta do it." I basically signed up, showed up half an
hour before the tournament, got a few tips and played. I even hit a few
good shots, so I caught the bug. Then, David set up a driving range on
one of the stages a few years ago so everyone could hit balls between
scenes. All the guys on the set would be practicing rolling their
wrists through their swings.
You're an adrenaline-sports lover, too, aren't you?
I am. I was such a tomboy growing up. I wanted to be skateboarding,
mountain biking, snowmobiling--anything fast. We lived in Los Angeles,
and my family would go up to Mammoth Mountain to ski and snowboard. I
haven't changed that much. I still like to do all those things, plus I
wakeboard and ride motorcycles. I bought my husband a Honda RC51 for
his birthday.
Golf doesn't seem to fit with those sports.
I know. I never thought I would like golf. I thought it was for older
guys. But once I tried it, I realized how fun and relaxing it can be.
It's a very quiet, personal sport, since it's just you and the ball,
which is nice. Golf is probably the only nonhorsepower sport that I
like.
Did you pick up the game easily?
There was a period when I couldn't hit the ball at all. For a while, I
was lifting up too much and straightening my knees, so I'd top the ball
or I'd hit the ground. That's when I started taking lessons and got
back on track.
Where's your favorite place to play?
I play a lot at Robinson Ranch Golf Club in Santa Clarita [Calif.],
since it's so close to the JAG set. I take lessons from Larry Atlas,
the pro there. I also play at Studio City Golf & Tennis, a little par 3
in L.A. Sometimes that's all I have time for. My husband and I just
bought some property in Park City, Utah, and we're thinking about
joining Promontory--The Ranch Club. The courses are so amazing.
Who's your favorite golf partner?
My husband, Adam [Beason]. We've been playing for about the same amount
of time and we're learning together. A great thing about the sport is
that we get to spend two to four hours hanging out and talking. When
you are motorcycling or snowmobiling, you can't talk to each other.
It's all hand signals.
What clubs do you play with?
I have Callaways. All the guys from JAG were playing with them. When I
first played, I didn't really know what I was doing; I hoped they would
make me play better. Now I love my Big Berthas. They're the best.
How would you rate your game?
I'm a great putter, which is probably from all the miniature golf I
played. So if I'm playing in a scramble and my other shots aren't so
good, at least my putting is dead-on. I need to work on my pitching and
chipping. I have a tendency to hit my short shots way too far.
What's been the highlight of your golf game thus far?
I played in the BMW Charity Pro-Am Golf at The Cliffs tournament in
South Carolina last spring, and I had some great drives. One was more
than 200 yards. I got up there and just smacked it, and it went
forever, right down the middle of the fairway. I passed all the pros I
was playing with because their shots went into the woods. I hit the
club right on the sweet spot. It made that perfect "tink" sound. Boy,
that felt good.
What was it like playing in a televised tournament?
I agreed to play because it was for charities in the Carolinas. But
when they sent me the DVD of the previous year and I watched all the
pros and Kevin Costner hitting these incredible drives, I freaked out
and tried to get out of it. I was afraid I wouldn't play well, but they
talked me into it. Once I got over the fact that there were people
standing in the gallery watching, I realized it really was about having
a good time. Fortunately, a lot of my fans showed up, so they were
cheering me on no matter what I did. When I hit into a sand trap, I'd
say, "Hey, I'm an actress!"
Who would be in your ideal foursome?
I'd love to play with Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and my husband.
How often do you play?
It's hard now that I have a child. I go in spurts. I'll get really into
it for a few months, and then I won't play for a while. I have to start
getting ready now that the BMW tournament is coming up again.
Your daughter, Gemma, is 2 in April. Do you think she'll play?
Definitely. We already bought her a little plastic set of clubs, and
she loves them.
[New thread suggestion - is there any sport Catherine Bell you couldn't
see her getting involved in?]
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