Golf Talk

We like Natalie just the way she is.

Just days after an article from a Virginia newspaper reported that Natalie Gulbis was under going an image makeover, Natalie Gulbis Inc. has released a statement discrediting that original article. Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter Jeffrey Kelley wrote that Gulbis, the biggest sex symbol of the LPGA Tour was going to have her image ‘revamped and de-vamped’ by a Richmond (VA) branding agency called Circle S Studios. The article cited Natalie’s recent win at the Evian Masters as part of the reason for the change to a more professional look. The Natalie Gulbis camp was most alarmed with the following quote from Circle S Studios President and Managing Partner Susan Hogg:

With the original stuff, she was in a beautiful bathing suit, tights and things and that certainly got the attention of a lot of people. But we’re trying to scoot it more to who she is and where she wants to take [her career and name] . . . and being a role model, specifically to young girls and women in general. That’s the brand we’re trying to portray.

A spokesman (which was not named) told the Golf Channel that the quote above from Hogg were for the most part ‘incorrect’. The Gulbis camp did admit that changes were being made to the calendar for 2008 but the result of which was not due to a rebranding but rather to increase the outlets where the calendar could be sold. The 2007 calendar was ruled to be too ‘risque’ by the USGA and thus was pulled off the shelves of many mainstream retail outlets. The new 2008 calendar will be designed to meet the USGA standards and thus should be available at your local Wal-mart, Walgreens, Target, Walden Books and Amazon.

Ironically, the spokesman went on to say that the ban by the USGA actually had the opposite effect in that sales increased and the exposure was more than expected.

Personally, I don’t have any problems with the calendar or the Natalie Gulbis brand. She should be free to market herself anyway she wants. The public will determine whether or not her calendar is appropriate through the numbers sold. Just because she is drop dead gorgeous we shouldn’t hold that against her. The LPGA is stocked full of young beautiful girls that should they wish to, they could all easily market themselves in a more sexually way, but they choose not to for whatever reason, which is also fine. Don’t judge Natalie just because she has something that you don’t have.

Natalie Gulbis, LPGA Tour