August 17, 2009–Lake Las Vegas Resort resident Natalie Gulbis has a great reputation when it comes to international team play, and because of that, she will be making her third appearance for the United States team in the upcoming Solheim Cup. Gulbis helped lead the U.S. to victories in 2005 and 2007 and feels like a true veteran in 2009. "My mindset has changed," wrote Gulbis via BlackBerry. "I have had success with some players and struggles with others. As a team we are really paying attention to the pairings and who is playing best. I also have so many stories to share with the rookies, Brittany Lang and Michelle Wie."
Gulbis has a career record of 4-3 in the Cup, an event that she cherishes. Gulbis battled injuries in 2008 but is feeling good now and if/when she plays well in this event, Las Vegas can take a bit of the credit. "My health is excellent and the game is good," wrote Gulbis, who works with the pros at the Butch Harmon School of Golf located at Las Vegas golf course Rio Secco Golf Club. "It was great to have two full weeks to work on my game and practice at home in Vegas!" Other members of the U.S. Team, captained by Beth Daniel, that will compete against the European Team include Kelly Robbins, Nicole Castrale, and Paula Creamer.
The Solheim Cup is being played August 21-23 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, located outside of Chicago. Gulbis has lived in Las Vegas for many years, and despite recent troubles at Lake Las Vegas Resort (two courses have closed and a third is headed into foreclosure) she says she loves the area and the people, and is confident the situation at the resort will turn around soon. During the Cup event, Gulbis looks forward to talking with the younger players about her past Cup experiences and the atmosphere that will surround the prestigious event. "We will talk about the first tee and what the first match will be like," Gulbis wrote. "There are 50k people and they are chanting your name and singing American songs. It's amazing!"
Las Vegas' Rio Secco Golf Club is 18 holes of Rees Jones golf that overlooks the Las Vegas valley. The Harmon School is located on the backend of the range and features a state-of-the-art practice facility that is open to all Las Vegas golfers. Also at Rio Secco Golf Club are the beautiful T-Mates, female caddies that make a Las Vegas golf round that much more enjoyable. Click now for the official website of Rio Secco Golf Club for Las Vegas golf tee times. You can also click now for VIP Las Vegas golf packages.
Official Solheim Cup bio from LPGA.com: Natalie Gulbis, an eight-year LPGA Tour veteran, is making her third appearance on the U.S. Solheim Cup Team. This season, the 26-year-old has finished in the top-20 four times, including a pair of top 10s at the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill (T7) and the SBS Open at Turtle Bay (T10). In her prior Solheim Cup performances, Gulbis has a 4-3-0 career record, and helped bring the U.S. team to victory in 2007. In 2005, Gulbis' first appearance on the U.S. Solheim Cup Team, she tallied three points for the victorious U.S. Team.
Gulbis has one career victory on the LPGA Tour at the 2007 Evian Masters, where she defeated Jeong Jang in a one-hole, sudden-death playoff. That same year, Gulbis received the William and Mousie Powell Award, which is given annually to a member who, in the opinion of her playing peers, by her behavior and deeds, best exemplifies the spirit, ideals and values of the LPGA Tour. She has earned just over $3.8 million in career earnings since joining the LPGA Tour in 2002. Gulbis attended the University of Arizona, where she was a First-Team All-American.