Field Notes

Playing golf and networking go hand-in-hand... It’s undeniable how integrated the game is with the world of business. Golf can be an invaluable tool for forging relationships with peers, clients, vendors and suppliers. For women especially, golf can contribute to their professional success through relationship-building, but also by helping them to feel more assertive and comfortable taking risks. Since the 1990’s, business executive and retired golf professiona Jane Blalock has served over 45,000 women through the KPMG Women’s PGA Clinics. Imperial recently caught up with the 27-time LPGA Tour champion in an interview detailing the inspiration behind these clinics, and her mission to make the game more approachable and accessible for female executives. Titled-sponsored by the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and implemented in partnership with the PGA of America, this nationwide series of full day Clinics is led by PGA/LPGA Certified Coaches and provides best in class fundamentals and on-course instruction to executive women, entrepreneurs, leaders and influencers in a dozen major U.S. markets annually. With Blalock at the helm and still hosting numerous Clinic sites in person, this unique program designed to advance women through the game of golf shows no signs of letting up. Imperial’s relationship with the KPMG Women’s PGA Clinics started back in 2019 when we teamed up to create a curated collection of ladies headwear bearing the Clinic’s embroidered logo. The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Golf Clinics Collection is an assortment of small fit hats and visors for women including performance fabric, mesh back styles and visors offered in a variety of colors. and in a junior size. Designed to help you perform your best in the moment, the combination of lightweight breathable fabrics and sun protection qualities will have you focusing on your next shot instead of battling the heat. 5 Questions with Jane Blalock • Why did you start the golf clinics for women? What was/is your vision for the program? While in the financial business with Merrill Lynch after leaving LPGA, I participated in numerous golf events for networking and relationship development. Typically, I was the only woman in the mix – and these were valuable interactions. I set out to encourage women to join in , to be a part of the business and social conversations taking place on the golf course. I created the Clinic program so women could learn the game, understand the language and etiquette around it and build enough confidence to participate in company outings or invite a client to play. Today, we’re proud to see many women attending with clients and customers and using the day to foster and strengthen relationships while learning the game and improving their skills together. Our current national partners definitely see the value in engaging their female associates; many have been participating for years. • In your opinion, what is the best part of the Clinic day? Personally, I think the best part of the day is the après golf networking segment. During that final hour, after everyone has spent the day working on their games and playing out on the course with their PGA/LPGA coaches, we receive so many thank you’s andpromises to no longer remain on the sidelines when it comes to golf. It’s rewarding – and empowering – to see the shift from somewhat timid and uncertain first thing in the morning to confident and fully capable by the end of the day. It says a lot about the program, our instructors and frankly, the women who participate. You can really feel the energy at the end of the day, and it’s inspiring. • How does your career as a professional golfer influence what you share with Clinic attendees? Given all of the events and pro-am tournaments in which I played alongside the other gender for many years, I am able to convince our Clinic participants thatthey don’t have to worry about being any good , as their male counterparts are not. I’ve seen a lot of men hit poor shots and it’s no big deal – they just move on to the next one. • What should I practice most if I want to impress my co-workers and clients on the golf course? Newer players should make an effort to understand the etiquette and play efficiently, which means know how to get around the golf course, where to stand, how to behave when others are hitting and so on. Pay attention to your pace of play – don’t hold others up looking for lost balls or hitting a lot of shots on one hole. Regardless of your skill level, be gracious and respectful – it will be remembered. It’s also a good idea to save the business chatter for the 19th hole. • Why should I attend a KPMG Women’s PGA Clinic? Take it from past attendees – it’s a game changer. You can know absolutely nothing about golf and leave the day with the same level of confidence as a decent player. You can be a great player and leave the day understanding what you need to do to get even better. You might close a business deal. You will definitely make new friends. It’s about golf, of course, but what you take away from the day in terms of relationship-building and making new connections is priceless. I think a lot of people are craving in-person engagement now more than ever – golf is a safe, social, and outdoor activity you can enjoy for a lifetime. There’s no better time than now to jump start or elevate your golf game and participate in a KPMG Women’s PGA Clinic .

Seth McWhorter x Imperial is a collaboration with one of our favorite single-human creative studios. Seth is the founder, chairman and (self-named) janitor of McWhorter Creative . You may recognize his work in our Golf Designs collection where his playful logos speak to the heart of every golf enthusiast with a sense of humor. The combination Seth’s designs paired with Imperial’s iconic styling makes for a pretty sweet hat. Read our interview with the man behind the art below, and browse his newest art on your favorite caps in Imperial x Seth McWhorter. From rope hats to mesh back hats, from fun golf logos to funny golf logos, this hat collection is for every golfer. And if for some reason it’s not, you can take Seth’s logos and design your own hat. Seth McWhorter Golf Hat Collection: Rope Hats, Mesh Back Hats, Patch Hats & More! Golf Mesh Back Hats & Golf Trucker Hats Most of the Seth McWhorter collection will be made on mesh back hats. It only makes sense to pair the new golf logos with the cool vibes the golf mesh back hat gives off. In addition to these hats having different structures and styles, every hat is breathable and colorful. The mesh back hat styles in this collection feature the Catch and Release, the Structured Performance Mesh and the North Country Trucker Cap. Golf Rope Hats Surprise, surprise – the golf rope hat in this collection is also a mesh back! The Pagosa Mesh Back Rope Cap combines the most stylish features of each hat type and voila - a masterpiece! If you prefer something different, don’t forget you can always design your own golf rope cap. Golf Lightweight Cotton Caps You will find Seth McWhorter’s designs on our Zero Lightweight Cotton Cap, which comes in a plethora of colors. With the light material and a solid structure, this cotton golf hat is sure to be comfortable - especially in humidity! Design Your Own Hat with McWhorter Creative One of Imperials’ biggest pleasures is knowing you can take your creativity to the next level anddesign your own golf hat to your liking. With our personalized hat tool, you can choose your favorite rope cap or meshback hat and pair it with one of Seth’s golf designs. Take our custom hat designs to the next level with the McWhorter Creative logos. Meet Seth McWhorter: Golf Hat Designer Extraordinaire We had the opportunity to ask Seth some more questions about his newest golf hat designs. From what he tells us, he puts a lot of thought into his golf logos, so we’re sure you’re going to love them as much as we do. Plus, read about which golf hat design Seth is most excited about... Over the years, you’ve had the opportunity to work with some really cool brands on a variety of projects. You’ve created designs for packaging, apparel, branding and advertising... (Besides your new collaboration with Imperial) what have been some of your favorite projects? It's been a privilege to work with so many brands and individuals over the past few years that share the same passions and interests that I do. Narrowing down to a list of favorites would be impossible, but I have found that my favorite projects are the ones that create lasting relationships with a client. I have the good fortune of working with clients that I now consider friends. The guys at No Laying Up have been wonderful clients and supporters of my work over the past 2-3 years, which has led to more work with good folks at Sweetens Cove, Zac Blair with the Buck Club, Tom Pashley at Pinehurst, (obviously Imperial!) and the list goes on. I realize now that I'm not answering the question, but each project becomes a "favorite" at some point - sometimes just not until long after it's finished... Do you enjoy any kind of design more than any others (typography, logo design, layout, etc.)? Do you consider yourself to specialize in any one type of design? My enjoyment of individual aspects of design definitely fluctuates. Logo design is certainly what I spend the majority of my time working on, but it can be a grueling and frustrating process sometimes. I've recently had a few opportunities to work on mascot or character designs, which I've found fun and rewarding. I've certainly started gravitating towards a certain style of illustration that shows up in my logo/branding work as well as the commercial illustration work I often get hired for. It's sort of a soft and loose illustration style that borders on being cartoonish. I think it's approachable but deceptively clean and unique. A lot of clients come to me and say, "I want you to do something in your own style,' but in reality they have a specific set of guidelines and criteria that subconsciously influences their evaluation of the work. Therefore, I have to ask the right questions, fully understand the context within which the work will exist, and then choose the best type or style of design. I've found that if you're going to be successful and make a living in the design world, you have to specialize in the type of design that solves the clients problems and meets their needs in the most creative, visually appealing way possible. On your Instagram, you sometimes show the process of your sketches becoming digital art. Is sketching always part of your process? Absolutely, however, I have a very loose definition of "sketching." Sure, 80% of the time, my "sketching" takes the form of actual pencil and paper. Sometimes it's an Apple Pencil and my iPad. Sometimes it's straight into Adobe Illustrator and away we go. But every project starts with an exploration phase where I am tinkering, iterating, and evolving the work to a point where I'm ready to share it with another human being. The process work I'm sharing on my Instagram is probably .01% of the actual work that goes into a design. There's only so much I can or want to share with the world. The rest is probably best hidden away. What is your favorite design in the new Imperial x Seth McWhorter Collection, and what is the story behind it? While most people probably won't get the reference, I'm a big fan of "The Kid", which is my re-creation of the video game character from Mario Golf on Game Boy Color. Yes, it's very "if you know, you know"—and probably won't sell all that well—but that character takes me back to when I was 12 years old, sitting in the backseat of my parents car on the way to a junior golf tournament. I remember the glare on the screen was always an issue with the Game Boy. But man, those were the days. I still have my Game Boy Color and the game with my original character intact—I might try and get a round in this afternoon. How has McWhorter Creative grown/evolved in 2020? What’s next for your studio in 2021? Like the rest of the world, 2020 was a learning experience in every aspect of life. As it was my first full year running a solo creative studio, it was about simply cranking out as much work as I could reasonably handle because I really didn't know what the future held (especially in such a crazy world). 2020 provided some tough learning experiences, mostly having to do with the amount of work I was taking on and how much to charge for it. Design is not a product you can hold in your hands—so selling its value can be a challenge. Not only do you have to sell the idea of the design, then you have to do the damn work! But I have a strong belief that there is tremendous value when design is done well, and that should be reflected in how much I charge for it. As for 2021, I obviously remain focused on the quality of my work, but I have a keener eye on the business side of things—charging for the work, scheduling projects, saying "no" when necessary, and understanding how to run a business that's centered around my own ability to come up with ideas and solve problems creatively within real world constraints. I operate a business where the reward for good work is more work, so I hope it keeps coming. The 2021 Imperial x Seth McWhorter Collection is sure to fulfill all your wildest golf dreams (except for a hole in one). Enjoy Seth’s golf hat designs and choose your favorite from his collection or design your own with our online hat designer tool.

When you look around a Fore the Ladies Clinic, you see women across the golf course, learning how to hold a golf club, practicing putting drills and smiling while enjoying a drink or two. Fore the Ladies, Inc., is a female-based community and non-profit organization with the intent to introduce more women to the game and bring women together to play, watch and participate in everything golf has to offer. They hope to make golf more accessible and approachable, while removing the expected barriers. We caught up with founder Abby Liebenthal to learn more about her organization, which you can check out here. Where did the idea for Fore the Ladies, Inc. come from? I was the only girl in my group of friends growing up who played golf. I never thought much of it, as it was simply a family activity. This theme continued through college, but more of my friends wanted to at least try to hit golf balls and learn the game. These comments popped up throughout the years, increasing as we moved into our careers and opportunities to play were given and passed on during business outings. Throughout my golf career, I have connected with so many women who simply do not know where to start when it comes to golf. They are not sure they will like the game, so they do not want to invest in lessons, clubs, apparel and access to a course. I understand that sentiment. I would not purchase a membership to a cycle studio without trying first. I was finding programs for junior female golfers, women in executive roles or members of a country club, but there was a void for young professional women to learn about golf. I hosted my first Fore the Ladies Clinic in 2019 as an attempt to make something for this group and we had 70 women show up! I was shocked, but also realized that when you create the venue, women will come. Fore the Ladies is creating opportunities to dip your toe into the sport. Women may walk away wanting to begin lessons, or golf might not be for them, but at leastthey get to make that decision, rather than being pushed away by barriers from the game. Fore The Ladies, Jacksonville Beach, Sunday, September 22nd, 2019. Where do you host clinics? At first, I was hosting clinics in locations in which my friends lived. Since then, we've been lucky enough to have facilities reach out to us in hopes of hosting a clinic, so now it's a mix of where I want to travel and where people are looking to get involved. This year we are going to: Baltimore, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Fla., Atlanta, San Francisco, San Diego, Champaign, Ill., and Toledo, Ohio (for now!). How do you find women to participate in the clinics? It's all about the hustle. I'm reaching out to friends and family in the local community, women's organizations, local businesses and so much more. In my opinion, if we want to reach more people and introduce them to the sport, we need to go where they are - they're not necessarily at the golf course already! What if a woman already plays golf but wants to get involved with Fore the Ladies? We've noticed that our community is a mix of current players and women new to the sport. For those who have already been introduced to the sport, we have a directory called the Fore the Ladies Tee Sheet that women can register to and find other women in their area to set up a round. This year, we hosted our very first golf getaway for women with Pinehurst Resort, which welcomed us for a weekend of golf, off-the-course activities and camaraderie. We hope to do more of these in the future and expand our offerings for current female golfers! What's next for Fore the Ladies? It's crazy to think about what we have achieved in two years, especially when all but two of our events were cancelled in 2020. We are still a young non-profit organization, but we are focused on reaching as many women as possible and introducing them to the sport. I think we are going to focus a lot of our time in the next two to three years getting women to continue their journey with golf after a FTL clinic, whether that be through lessons, teeing it up or even tuning in more to women's professional golf. Abby Liebenthal, Fore the Ladies, Inc., Founder @AbbyLiebs LinkedIn