The last time I stepped onto a first tee and was introduced
was August 21, 2011.
It took me quite a long time to figure that out because I
truthfully couldn’t recall when I literally gave up on my pipe dream after a
season of battling vertigo.
In hindsight, that was the best thing that could have ever
happened to me. Instead of getting stuck
in a rut, I went to grad school, completed a second degree, landed a job and
got my actual professional career rolling… If you had of told me on August 21,
2011 I’d be where I am now today in Calgary, I would have never believed you.
Fast forward though to next week, August 26th,
2015 - I’m going to be on the first tee at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur
Championship. I probably wouldn’t have believed anyone if they said I was going
to do that this year…
I’m not sure what inspired my hopefully not insane decision
to return to competitive golf (thankfully now as an amateur) but there’s definitely
a few factors in it:
- Beating my boyfriend on the golf course the first 11 matches of the season and then seeing him finish in the top-5 at the Alberta Amateur and being T-9 after the opening round of the Canadian Men’s Amateur.
- Side note: I have lost the last three matches… not good for the confidence
- Knowing my safety net of a best friend is the one actual running the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur, so if I do shoot 99 she will be there with a glass of wine for sure.
- Finding out two of my dearest golfing friends from Prince Edward Island who have always encouraged me to play and have competitively challenged on course will be there too…. With wine.
- Hearing my father say how incredibly happy he was that I found joy in golf again after I played three rounds of golf with him at home in July and I didn’t once utter a curse worse, even when I bogeyed the last four holes to shoot 76.
- The fact that Brooke Henderson isn’t an amateur anymore… I mean seriously, I did NOT want to play against her J
Whatever the reason is, it’s definitely a combination of
them and quite a few more and I hope that maybe if I chronicle this terrifying
experience (because it is terrifying to me right now) it will encourage others
who might have similar fears in any sport to get back into it or to start one.
I’m going to hold myself to being brutally honest with all
this, like with the fact I keep saying I have zero expectations but literally I
think I’ve been having dreams of hoisting a trophy.
Leading into this event, I worked 21 days in a row, when I did
get a four hour break ONE day, I zipped up to a course with some co-workers and
blasted a round in the mid 80’s that included a ‘X’ on the scorecard. I’ve yet
to figure out what that hole would have totaled but I know that pond has two
brand new Pro-Vs, sorry Titleist!
Prior to that, my profile on Foursum golf will tell you, I’ve
played a handful of times… all of which I’ve pretty consistently kept my play
between 74-77. Typically I string together about 3-4 bogeys to finish a round
when I get ahead of myself and think I’M GOING TO FINALLY SHOOT UNDER-PAR
AGAIN!
Being realistic for next week, winning would be a dream but
man the ladies playing in Canada are good, I know this I wrote about them for
two years, so gold gods, be nice to me.
Instead of focusing on a trophy, what I hope to do next week
is embrace the experience, smile, laugh, and enjoy the company I’m with. To me
that’s going to be winning.
I’m not going to lie though, every minute I have to myself
this week, I’m going to be on the range or a golf course in Calgary. The
classic last-minute practice crisis but I’m happy to do it, I heard from a wise
journalist too, short game, short game, short game… so that’s noted.
I will keep everyone updated, but I’m seriously off to the
range now and to play a twilight nine in the city.
