| Branching Out: Andrews Enjoys TV, Teaching Pursuits The Pilot - January 2005 |
BY HOWARD WARD: Golf Writer
It’s a new year and a new career for Donna Andrews.
Actually, it really isn’t a new career as the Southern Pines resident is still going to be active on the LPGA Tour, but she is
branching out in a couple of directions as she looks to the future.
Andrews, who celebrates her 38th birthday in April, joined Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club last year as a part-time
instructor. And she will be joining ESPN to serve as an on-course commentator for nine LPGA tournaments this season.
Both endeavors appear to be sound choices for Andrews, an attractive woman with a pleasing personality who is well-
prepared in both fields. A 1989 graduate of the University of North Carolina, she was associated with Pinehurst Resort’s Golf
Advantage School for several years.
Andrews, a native of Lynchburg, Va., made a name for herself at Pinehurst by winning North and South championships in
1984 and 1988 and finishing second in 1989.
The decision to pursue other career interests was prompted in part by a series of shoulder injuries that have hampered her
play over the past few years. But a desire for a “normal” life was also a factor.
“I only played in 14 tournaments last year and spent three months at home,” she said. “I had never been at home in the
summer before and I really enjoyed it.”
The forced stay at home was caused by a third shoulder separation and gave her time to focus on plans for the future.
Although she had four top-10 finishes during the season and contended for the first two rounds of the U.S. Open, she
decided it was time to explore her options.
“I was already leaning toward doing ESPN,” she said. “I was winding up my second year as LPGA president and was trying to
figure a way to spend more time at home. With ESPN, it works out that I can be at home Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
and commentate on the weekends. That means I can also work at Pine Needles during the first part of the week.”
Andrews has already done some broadcast work for ESPN, and both she and the network were pleased with the results.
“It comes very natural for me,” she said. “I can talk golf with the best of them.”
Despite playing a limited schedule, Andrews is still serious about the game.
“If I can’t play to win, I’m not going to play,” she said. “Playing less is a conscious decision, and I realize that it may affect my
play. I’m hoping to play well enough to keep my LPGA card, but I do have some exempt time for the success I’ve had on Tour.
“Working for ESPN and Pine Needles is something that’s good for the future, and if both work out well, I may not keep playing
a regular schedule. I may develop a home life.”
That missed “home life” is probably the only regret Andrews has about her LPGA career.
She has won six times, including a major, the 1994 Nabisco Dinah Shore. She won three tournaments that year and a career-
high $429,015. In 2004, her best finish was a tie for eighth in the Safeway International and she earned $152,321.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the glitz and glamour of the Tour,” she said, “but the more time you spend at home, the more you
realize what you’ve been missing. Spending time with my mom in 2001 while she was recuperating from cancer was the best
thing I could have done. I had the injuries and went through a divorce and that’s when my perspective began changing.
“Golf is a nine-month sport, and I was missing out on family activities; the reunions, the times at the lake.”
Andrews owns Serenity Stables, a horse farm in Southern Pines, and loves animals. Two of her shoulder injuries were
caused by horses and the third by her pet dog.
“The horses are a great outlet,” she said, “and they’ll always be a part of my life.”
Andrews also has another interest now.
“I have a very important gentleman in my life,” she said, “and we’ll see where that goes.”
Meanwhile, she’s happy adjusting to a new lifestyle.
“This is where I’m supposed to be,” she said of Pine Needles. “They’ve just taken me in and I’m enjoying the family
atmosphere. They don’t need me, but I’m enjoying being a part of it. It’s nice to see a place that still caters so much to
women. They’ll have 150 women here for the Golf Safaris, and you just don’t see that anywhere else.
“I’m working with the Safaris, but I’m also teaching, giving private lessons, clinics or whatever the needs are. Anyone that’s
interested in lessons can call the Pine Needles pro shop at 692-7111 and set up a time.”
But if she’s playing well, the caller may have to wait for a couple of weeks, because Andrews still loves the LPGA competition.
“I don’t have any regrets about my playing career, other than the time away from my family,” she said. “But you know that going
in. My plans are to play the majors and six other events.
“Oh, I’d love to win again. I’ve been close in the U.S. Open a couple of times, and I’d love to have an Open title. I’m not saying I
won’t go back and play a full schedule at some point because I know I’ll always want to play and as long as I feel I can be
competitive.
“But even last year when I was playing well, my body was feeling it. I haven’t been nice to it over the years. I’ve seen players
that didn’t know when to quit — just kept plugging along — and I don’t want to be that person.”