Too Hot for the USGA

Earlier this month, at the U.S. Women's Open, copies of Natalie Gulbis' 2005 wall calendar were scheduled to be sold in merchandise tents ... until the USGA got a gander at some of the swimsuit photos included in the calendar. The USGA pulled Gulbis' calendar from its sales tents. It's not a stretch to say that to this point Gulbis is known as much for her sex appeal (see: Natalie Gulbis glamour shots) as her golf. She's among the early leaders at the British Women's Open, but the questions in a recent Q&A with Gulbis focus on her personal life (and those calendar photos) as much as on golf.

In the introduction to their Q&A with Gulbis, espn.com writes they were "able to slow her down long enough to find out about her sex symbol status, her relationship with Ricky Barnes and - oh yes - her golf game, as well."

Oh, yes, Gulbis' golf game. While she's yet to win on the LPGA Tour, Gulbis is only 21 years old and has knocked on the door a few times. "She was the phenom in women's golf before Michelle Wie and Paula Creamer were even in their teens," espn.com writes. A breakthrough victory for Gulbis likely isn't far off.

Gulbis' 2005 calendar may have been too hot for the stuffy USGA, but the LPGA isn't so prudish. LPGA.com features a lengthy article on the calendar, and touts the calendar in other places, too.

Some LPGA players - Jan Stephenson, for example - have been saying for years that the LPGA needs to sell sex appeal. Others are aghast at the idea. We believe the LPGA Tour would be wrong to make an institutional decision to encourage its players to market sex appeal, but we also believe it would be wrong for the LPGA to institutionally discourage it.

In other words, it's not an issue the LPGA Tour needs to take a stance on. The women who make up the Tour are quite capable of deciding what is best for their careers and what is appropriate for themselves.

Natalie Gulbis is comfortable in her own skin, and comfortable exposing some of it in a calendar. The photos are tasteful and no more revealing than photos one might find in a swimwear catalag. As long as Gulbis is happy with the results, well, you go girl.

And Gulbis is apparently quite happy with the results. ""With my calendar this year, I really wanted to show a side of myself not often seen on the golf course," Gulbis told LPGA.com. "I hope my fans enjoy the calendar as much as I enjoyed making it."

The calendar features a different shot of Gulbis for every month, attired either in golfwear or swimwear. It is selling for $12.99.

Gulbis put out a 2004 calendar, too, which she says on her website sold every copy produced. That calendar used stock photos taken during tournaments or on the course. The photos in the 2005 calendar were taken during photo shoots specifically for this project.

More Natalie Gulbis Photos
• Natalie Gulbis glamour shots
• Natalie Gulbis pictures index

See also:
• Sexy Golf - an index of more glamour shots galleries

Calendar images appear courtesy of Imani Sports and are used with permission.