Golf began for me through sheer sibling competitiveness. I won’t lie, I wanted to beat my brother who had just taken up the game at the age of nine. I was 11 and we were fiercely competitive in tennis, hockey, Lego creations, you name it. My mum suggested she and I learned to play golf together. My dad had played as a child and there it started. Family time went from hitting hockey balls round the garden to playing nine holes at Wellow Golf Club back in 1991. We hung out on the course as a four-ball. It was great and also a true test of character to play alongside each other without arguing. I remember throwing a tennis racket at my brother during a ‘friendly rally’ in the garden once when things weren’t going my way – but at least I never threatened him with a putter.
So what does that say about golf? It taught me so many lessons as a child and especially as a teenager, including letting things go. I practised my short game in the garden most evenings during the summer months, chipping balls into the wheelbarrow usually against my brother. Golf served as a great discipline in perseverance. As a child I can’t think of another game that delivers so much in the way of self-control, acceptance and patience. I was often the only girl playing, which gave me so much confidence and a big incentive to beat the boys. I was rewarded with friendships and coping mechanisms when bullied at secondary school. As a teenager, golf was my escape; I was ‘me’ and everything was fair (the things I could control anyway) and everybody was kind. Slowly I grew more confident and developed the art of making conversation during a round. I didn’t let school worries bother me so much and as a result friendships and respect grew. It gave me life skills that made me the person I am today.
This story is from the August 2022 edition of Golf Monthly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2022 edition of Golf Monthly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
"I'm just trying to inspire people to play golf”
Golf Monthly meets social media sensation Mia Baker, who is on a mission to get more people into golf... and smiling all the way
A PLACE ΤΟ YOURSELF
Jeremy Ellwood discovers the Old Millhouse in Dalkeith to be the perfect away-from-it-all base for exploring the East Lothian coast's many fine links
Border patrol
Andy Wright ventures due east from his Troon base for a stay at Macdonald Hotels' Cardrona resort in the Borders near Peebles
Moortown
Golf fans know that Dr Alister Mackenzie was the man responsible for Augusta National; many will also be aware that the surgeon-turned-course architect first honed his design skills on his home patch close to Leeds.
Rickie Fowler
The 34-year-old American is back in form and eager to share his favourite tee-to-green tips
How to cure the chipping yips
INSTRUCTION - SAVE PAR
Beef up your ball flight
INSTRUCTION - FAULT FIXER
HYBRID MASTERCLASS
Top 50 Coach Lysa Jones explains how to make the most of this versatile club
The great debate
Nick Bonfield explores the concept of greatness in professional golf and ponders how it should be defined
BREAKING the mould
To mark shoe giant FootJoy's 100th anniversary, Neil Tappin flies out to its HQ near Boston to find out more about the brand's past and future, before setting up tent in the buzzing campsite it sponsors at The Open