How did you become a member of the PGA of Canada/Saskatchewan?
After playing Division 1 golf for the Florida Gators, professionally in mini tours, the Epson Tour (Symetra Tours when I played) and the Australian tour, I started coaching just for fun in 2020 and realized I loved it. I got in touch with someone at the PGA of Canada and sign up to work towards being a Class ‘A’ professional.
How many years have you been a golf professional?
A little over 11 years.
I was a touring/playing professional since 2015, and I became a PGA of Canada professional in 2021.
What is your favourite memory or most uplifting story from your time in the game of golf?
My favourite memory is when I got to play the LPGA’s Canadian Open. It was my LPGA debut and the first one ever held in Saskatchewan. I didn’t play my best, but it was the first time I realized that I could compete with the players on the LPGA Tour.
One of the biggest things that held me back when I played professionally was that I knew I was really good, but on a world scale I didn’t have the belief that I was great. I had opportunities to experience playing “a level up” before actually getting to the next level; but when I played professionally, it took a long time to get into an LPGA event to see how I compared. It’s difficult to believe something if you haven’t seen proof, and I had played against LPGA players in Mini Tour events and beat them but it wasn’t enough. The LPGA as a whole was a pedestal that I had never been on. That week I saw that I could hit the shots they did, I could compete with the game I had. It was an awesome experience and I was quite nervous because this was a big step in my career.
I learned that putting dreams on a pedestal makes them feel out of reach even when you get so close. My mind got in the way of my success because I hadn’t adjusted my goals high enough to reflect the things I had already achieved. It showed me that continually striving for higher and higher goals can open up endless possibilities if you’re open to them.
I still set ambitious goals for myself in all aspects of my life; I am happier and more fulfilled continually striving to be better. I would have never learned how to push and change the limits of my mind without this experience.
If you had the opportunity to speak to the entire province at once, how would you encourage more females to take up the sport of golf?
Sign up for a few lessons to get the basics. Golf is hard even when you know what to do, so taking to time and investment of at least one lesson could make a big difference in your enjoyment.
Countless people tell me after they’ve had one lesson that they wish they took a it sooner because it made the game so much more enjoyable. If you don’t want to go alone, find a friend and book one!
Have fun however you have fun with golf! People love golf for a wide range of different reasons and all are valid.