Aimee judges break just right

Bryce Alderton

Some wait their whole lives for a break.

For Newport Beach resident Danielle Aimee, another opportunity to

play on the LPGA Tour came calling at age 28, this time because of a

television show.

The name, fittingly, is “Big Break III: Ladies Only.� The show,

which features 10 women -- the first time the series has included an

all-female cast -- who compete against one another in a variety of

challenges that test their physical skills and mental toughness, will

air on the Golf Channel beginning Feb. 8.

The grand-prize winner will receive entry into select LPGA

tournaments, including the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill, May 5-8,

and the LPGA Corning Classic, May 26-29.

Tournament golf is nothing new to Aimee, who began her

professional golf career in 2000, two seasons after graduating from

Long Beach State, where she played on the women’s golf team for three

seasons.

In 2003, she came within two strokes of qualifying for the LPGA

Tour at qualifying school.

Aimee, who calls Costa Mesa Golf & Country Club her home course,

competes on the Futures mini tour and estimated she has played in 30

professional tournaments. She said her best finish was 22nd.

It just so happens she was competing in a Futures event in

Forsythe, Ill., in June and Big Break III producers were staging

auditions at the tournament site.

Aimee had heard snippets of information about the show and family

and friends encouraged her to apply.

She followed her curiosity and engaged in the 45-minute audition,

which included an interview, a mock appearance in front of a camera,

a golf skills session and a two-page questionnaire.

“Fate led me [to the audition],� Aimee said.

Then in early October, Aimee received a phone call from show

producers with the good news that she had been selected for the

program.

Performing in front of television cameras is nothing new for

Aimee. A few years ago she was asked to appear in a golf reality show

on the Golf Channel. Aimee said that program didn’t blossom.

Her latest bout with reality television left a more indelible

impression, despite some sacrifices.

Confidentiality rules stipulated by the show’s producers prevented

Aimee from providing certain details about the episodes. But she

revealed that contestants couldn’t use cell phones during the 12 days

of taping and didn’t have access to newspapers or television.

“We didn’t understand where or what we were doing. We had no clue

what the weather would be or anything,� Aimee said. “The golf skills

challenge [entailed] advanced shots. All 10 players were equal on

level of ability.�

The other contestants include: Felicia Brown, 28, a contract

specialist for the Department of Defense from Redondo Beach, Calif.;

Tasha Browner, 23, a touring pro and golf shop manager from Tarzana,

Calif.; Pamela Crikelair, 24, an aspiring professional from Highland

Beach, Fla.; Debbie Dahmer, 41, a disc jockey company owner and

touring professional, from Escondido, Calif.; Jan Dowling, 23, a

touring professional from Dallas; Cindy Miller, 48, an LPGA teaching

professional, from Silver Creek, N.Y.; Valeria Ochoa, 24, an

assistant golf pro and mother of three from Miramar, Fla.; Sarah

Sasse, 23, a touring professional from Lincoln, Neb.; and Liz Uthoff,

25, a teaching and touring professional from St. Louis, Mo.

One golfer is eliminated from the series each week until only one

is left.

The lucky golfer will realize a dream of playing alongside Annika

Sorenstam, named the Associated Press’ Female Athlete of the Year for

2004, Lorie Kane and Kelli Kuehne on the LPGA Tour.

Aimee’s drive to excel in golf was fueled after a college coach

questioned whether golf was “her game.�

“To say that to a student is so wrong,� said Aimee, who wished not

to provide the coach’s name. “But that [comment] actually pushed me.�

Stints working for orthodontists and dentists as a hygienist and

two years spent bartending at the Cannery Restaurant in Newport Beach

provided a means for Aimee to pay the bills in the hopes that she

would play golf for a living.

The time has come.

Pretty soon she landed at Costa Mesa, where she spends many of her

practice hours in addition to the Hoover Golf Center in Westminster,

where instructor Chad Morris began working with her four months ago.

Morris, who has taught for 7 1/2 years, said Aimee’s work ethic

is unmatched and has the athleticism to boot.

“She will spend eight hours on the range hitting balls,� Morris

said. “She is a strong individual who hits it hard and pretty far.�

Morris hasn’t played a round with Aimee, but estimated her longest

drives travel 280 yards.

Morris began working with Aimee on her short game to compliment

her length and believes she is ready for any challenge.

“Everything she does is preparation for tournament golf,� Morris

said.

“I’ve been pretty blessed,� Aimee said. “People believe in my golf

and my ability to play full-time.�

Aimee will still play on the Futures tour full-time. It’s just

that part-time stint on the LPGA Tour that she eyes.

From Feb. 8 and the weeks after, the rest of the world will know

much more of where her future lies.