How did you first get into golf, and what inspired you to pursue it?
I first got into golf when I was in seventh grade, in the middle of COVID because my stepdad introduced me to it and I joined the team in eighth grade. I joined with Kayleigh Bishop and we joined together because we both didn’t want to do it alone.
What does being a captain of the golf team mean to you?
It’s such a great opportunity and I am so humble to have the position because I think it’s just about leading such an excellent and amazing group of girls. (It) is such a privilege and it means a lot to me about just the character that it takes to be a captain. It means a lot to me to know that the girls nominated me and think that I am fit for the position.
Can you describe a moment in your golf career that you’re especially proud of?
Last year was my third year on the team and it was the first time I played in conference championships and sections. The years before that, I’d only played in one or the other, and it felt good to know that I’d earned my spot in both events, which are the biggest events of the year.
What’s the most challenging aspect of golf, both mentally and physically?
The biggest challenge of golf is all mental. You can get in your head so easily after one shot. Physically, we walk, we don’t take golf carts, so it’s just really straining to have to walk the whole course, which can be five miles at a time if you play 18 (holes). It’s just a stretch for your body, but mentally is the hardest part, especially when you’re with girls that you could be meeting for the first time or that you’re unfamiliar with.
How do you handle pressure during competitive matches, especially as a leader?
How I deal with pressure is I think about the most important shot is the next, and if you had a bad shot, there’s nothing you can do about it afterwards; it happened, and the most you can do is keep moving forward. Being a leader, I do feel the pressure to do well because I want to set an example for the girls, and I want them to still look up to me. At the end of the day, you hit good shots, you have bad shots. It is what it is.
In what ways do you try to support your teammates both on and off the course?
The biggest way I motivate or try to support them is just (them) knowing that I’m there for them. Whether it’s talking about golf or talking about life, (or) whether it’s getting a ride to practice or to a match. I just want them to know that I care more about them as a human being and a person than a player, and how they golf doesn’t affect my views on them. I just try to be social so that they feel like I’m not someone who’s intimidating because I’m a captain or that I’m older, whatever it may be, but that I’m someone who is there for them and wants them to succeed.
What are some key lessons golf has taught you that go beyond the sport?
The importance of community and who you surround yourself with. Golf is an individual sport; even though you play on a team, you control your own score. Your teammates don’t really impact your score. Having a strong community and feeling like on those days where it’s not your best score or you don’t hit or play your best round, you still have your team with you, supporting you no matter how you do. It’s that thing again where you’re a human before you’re a player, and knowing that the people you surround yourself with should lift you regardless of your good and bad days.
Do you have any pre-game rituals or routines to get in the zone?
I spend 30 minutes putting and 30 minutes chipping; most people go to the driving range to hit all the other clubs. I work on my short game the most because I feel like once I get out on the course, it’s more natural, and I don’t have to think about it as much compared to when I don’t warm up for a long time.
Are there any goals you’re still working toward, either individually or for the team?
Individually, every day, I try to be better at golf. I try to hit my shots more consistently, whether it’s straight or further, whatever it may be. I don’t think anyone is ever done with their golf progress, even when you’re old. I just try to better myself every day. Since I’ve been captain, a large thing I wanted to focus on is making our team more diverse because I don’t ever want it to ever be a situation where someone feels like they can’t join based on the color of their skin. I think that’s a goal that never ends as well, but that’s one of the biggest or the biggest goals I have for the team.
