Golf invention becomes reality TV for local songwriter

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC- Vicky Peterson of Westlake Village strums her guitar behind the 18th green at Lake Lindero Country Club. Peterson wrote a golf-themed song titled "Fairways and Greens." Her invention may not be as monumental as Benjamin Franklin's, Thomas Edison's or Henry Ford's, but Westlake Village resident Vicky Peterson is banking that her new idea can lead to prominence, too.

Peterson is one of 103 competitors on the Golf Channel's new reality series "Fore Inventors Only," which premiered Tuesday.

Peterson's invention is an original golf-themed song called "Fairways and Greens" that is part of a compilation CD. Peterson said she was very surprised and thrilled when she made the first cut, seeing how her CD wasn't her original invention for the show.

"Originally, I was going to the casting call with my computerized shoe concept, but I felt it wasn't quite at the prototype level it needed to be at," Peterson said. "My friend then called me up and said you could bring as many as two inventions to the casting call, and she insisted that I sing my song."

Even after getting her friend's advice, Peterson still wasn't sure if she wanted to play her song in front of judges, and she also wasn't sure if her song could be dubbed an invention.

"I didn't think a song was a true invention, per se, and I thought my shoe was the only practical, tangible invention I had," Peterson said.

"Then I thought of my idea of a compilation disc with other golfers' songs on it. I looked up the definition in Webster's (dictionary), and it said that an invention is something constructed by the originator that did not exist before, something framed by the imagination and concocted. After reading that I thought, 'Why not try it?'"

Peterson played her song that day and demonstrated her shoe. Six weeks later, she had just about given up on the TV show when the Golf Channel called to offer congratulations and welcome her to the show, which was set to film in Orlando, Fla.

"I was really thrilled when I found out I made the show, but then I realized they had never told me which invention they wanted me doing," Peterson said.

"They called me a week later to tell me they actually wanted me to sing my song. That was funny since I thought about submitting that invention at the last minute."

On the way to Florida, Peterson became very nervous knowing that her invention was different from many others on the show, such as the Chipinator, PlumbBob Putter and a universal golf trainer and portable driving range called the Swingshot.

"I was nervous on the flight over. I thought I'd be a fish out of water with my invention," Peterson said. "I knew anyone with an invention is pretty smart, and I didn't know how I would be received.

"However, never before had I been treated with so much respect. Everyone there was very friendly and was more about checking out everyone else's idea rather than promoting their own."

Judges on the show will select five finalists out of the 103 people competing. Viewers will then get to cast their votes for the winner on the final show, to be aired Sept. 4.

The winner will receive shelf space at golf retailer Golfsmith for one year, as well as $50,000 worth of commercial and promotional air time on the Golf Channel.

Because "Fore Golfers Only" is still airing, Peterson was unable to discuss the results. However, she did say the experience was fun and that the opportunity to get her song out into the public was fantastic.

"I did this for the whole experience, and I'm glad I did," Peterson said. "If I'm able to touch just a few people with my song, then it was worth it."

Peterson has been playing music for nearly 20 years and has nearly 250 songs in her repertoire. She performs Wednesdays at the Elephant Bar in Simi Valley with her band, Tandem, as well as Sundays at the Azar's Red Robin in Newbury Park.

Peterson classifies her music as contemporary rock and plays many covers, including Pearl Jam's "Betterman" and "Black."

She said she's getting more people that know her "Fairway and Greens" song when she performs live.

"I actually didn't write that song ("Fairway and Greens") for the show," Peterson said. "I write about whatever inspires me, and one day I had all these golf balls, clubs and tees lying around the house, and that inspired me to write the song."

The theater arts major from UC Santa Cruz had surfed for many years but started playing golf only three years ago after her surfing partner got hurt and couldn't continue.

"My friend told me, 'Why you don't play golf?'" Peterson said. "I started playing with a couple of guys, and it's been such a joy. I've enjoyed it so much that it's been hard to get back into surfing."

"Fore Inventors Only" airs on the Golf Channel Tuesdays at 7 p.m.