Virginia's Political Power Player
DiVall is also a two-time VSGA Senior Women's Amateur champion.

Virginia State Golf Association
January 10, 2008

Newly-elected the VSGA Women's Division president Linda DiVall faces a busy season off the course in '08. As president and CEO of Alexandria-based American Viewpoint, a national political consulting and polling firm, she oversees polling and strategic research for Republicans running for office at all levels as well as corporate research focusing on brand image and crisis communications. Former wiley Texas Sen. Phil Gramm called upon her to serve as pollster and senior advisor to his presidential campaign in 1996.

Still, her passion for golf gladly manages to get in the way for the two-time VSGA Senior Amateur champion, who aims to bring the game to more women in Virginia and increasing women's scholarship program initiatives.

How is playing golf like a political campaign?

In tournament golf, I always try to start with a plan and simply try to execute that plan. As with any campaign, things go astray [laughs] and you have to quickly readjust and be flexible.

How do you find time to stay competitive?

I'm not sure I have! Family comes first and we've faced some difficult circumstances lately, which puts golf in its proper perspective. You try to do the best you can, but as with any election year, I can't play in as many tournaments. The first thing I have to do is satisfy my clients and that means getting them elected.

Do your clients ask for golf tips?

Actually, they do and I usually decline. I like to cheer them on and tell them to believe in themselves. That's important. Gives them confidence. I played with Sen. [Johnny] Isaacson (R-Ga.) at Atlanta Country Club recently. We're going to the last hole and I told him to lay up on a par 5. He nearly holed his wedge third shot. He believed and he did it. Great fun and not bad for job security.

What do you tell people, especially women, who feel their schedules are too crammed to play golf?

In 1985, I put all my time and energies into starting my own business. I didn't know much about the VSGA. Then, I started to play in a couple of VSGA Women's Division one-day events, learned more about it and developed great friends. My advice is to try to play in our one days. We also have major championships that rotate around the commonwealth and we have a shortened set of tees for golfers of all skill levels. Once people set foot into their first event, they'll see how well managed and what fun they are. You don't have to be Annika Sorenstam or Lorena Ochoa or dress like Paula Creamer in pink to play in our events.

Talk about transitioning from the sometimes cruel world of politics to the rather gentile nature of golf.