We are so fortunate to have such a strong group of women who care so deeply about the sport and the growth of the women’s game. Get to know more about the women behind the scenes and learn how to get more involved in the future.
What is your favorite golf memory? One summer afternoon my husband and I were in a match play event against friends we had played many times before. It was a close match and after 18 holes, we were all even and headed back down the 1st hole. Both sides were playing great golf with birdies to tie the hole. The dusk was settling in and the moon was rising when we finally finished after 6 extra holes. I don’t remember who actually won, but have vivid memories of how much fun we were having.
Chipping or putting? Previously I would have said chipping but I am beginning to lean more and more towards putting.
What is your favorite food? Pizza
What advice would you give to someone interested in being more involved in tournament play? Go for it! It’s a great way to meet some new people and improve your game. But, be kind to yourself and recognize that like any new experience it may take some time to perfect.
What is your favorite hobby? Paddle tennis … lots of fun and a great way to get some fresh air in the New England winter
Favorite ice cream? Massachusetts made (Greenfield, MA) Barts Sea Salt Carmel
What is your favorite golf rule? Rule 14.5 … the “eraser rule”. This rule can “erase” when you incorrectly substituted a ball, replaced, dropped, or placed a ball in a wrong way, a wrong place, or used the wrong procedure as long as you correct the mistake before hitting your next stroke. We are all human and can make mistakes so its good to know we can sometimes get a redo.
Bucket list golf course top 3? Bandon Dunes (Oregon), Cabot Links (Nova Scotia) and Cape Kidnappers (New Zealand)
Most looking forward to? Hanging out with friends and family and not having to think about social distancing, masks and hand washing/hand sanitizer.
What is your favorite golf memory? 2014 Renaissance Women’s Invitational, with my partner, Amy Dickinson. I holed a bunker shot from the back of the 14th green on the second hole of the shootout for a birdie to win the event. The bunker is deep (and I am short) so I couldn’t see the flag. I used Sally DeGan as my aiming point since she was wearing a bright orange pullover!
Hybrids or long irons? Neither. I am in love with my newly acquired 9 and 11 woods!
Dream foursome? Annika Sorenstam (Mrs 59), Danielle Kang (so much spunk) and Tom Brady (why not?)
Favorite quote? ‘The woods are full of long drivers’, Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book.
What is your favorite hobby? (besides golf) Snowboarding
What advice would you give to someone interested in being more involved in tournament play? I hear women say they want to get better before they start to compete. There is no faster way to improve your game than to compete. You learn so much.
Favorite ice cream? Purple Cow (Richardson’s black raspberry with both White and dark chocolate chips. Now I am craving it, and I am in FL for the winter now, so I can’t get it…
Bucket list golf course top 3? Bucket List implies achievable so: 1)Royal County Down 2) Bandon Dunes, 3) Cabot Links,
Short term goal with your game? I’ve been as long as a 7.0 index. The goal is 6.0!
What is your favorite golf memory? My first (and only so far) hole in one.
What is your favorite hobby (besides golf)? Cooking, its really necessary right now but I enjoy it and it helps me relax.
Short term goal with your game? Focus on short game because I don’t hit a long ball.
Most looking forward to? Enjoying retirement – grandchildren, travel and golf.
Favorite golf course you’ve ever played? Mid Ocean, Bermuda
Hybrids or long irons? Long irons
Dream vacation location? New Zealand
What is the best advice you ever received? Simple! Slow it down. Saves me every time my swing starts to get wild.
Favorite golf course in Massachusetts? Essex County Club, it really beats me up but I love the course and the history.
What motivates you? Being part of the team and getting the job done. I am motivated by our successes.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Don’t judge anyone, they are the only ones walking in their shoes.
What is your favorite Mass Golf memory? The year I turned 50, the entire staff, including everyone who works at the Golf House, put together a surprise birthday party for me. Being able to all spend time together was wonderful. They totally surprised me!
What is your favorite food? Town Spa Pizza
Favorite song? I have too many favorites! Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight
What is your favorite hobby? I love to read, hike and shop. A little bit of everything! Hiking Blue Hills with my kids is always fun.
Best part of working at Mass Golf? The people. Working with the greatest and most talented people.
Favorite place to travel to in Mass? The Cape
Most looking forward to this fall? I love the change of seasons. The smell in the air, the temperature change. Nothing beats being home on a Sunday and cooking something special to have while we watch the Patriots play.
What is your favorite golf memory? Playing Pinehurst on Sunday with the same pin position as Payne Stewart in 1999 and making a similar putt to win the hole in match play.
Dream foursome? Babe Zaharias, Condaleezza Rice, Annika Sorenstam
What advice would you give to someone interested in being more involved in tournament play? Don’t worry about the result and your score. Just get out and play, play, play. It’s the best way to practice tournament play and get better faster.
What is your favorite snack on the golf course? Goldfish
What is your favorite golf drill? Putting with my eyes at the hole to get a feel for speed.
What is your favorite memory in your professional career? Playing in my first professional Futures Tour event (now Symetra Tour), my Hampton Inn breakfast was interrupted by a man asking directions to the course. We chatted for a bit and discussed how this was both our first time at a Futures Tour event. Later in the day during first year orientation, the same man stood up and addressed the group as the new LPGA Commissioner! It was Mike Whan. He’s been a great asset to the LPGA and I unknowingly got to speak with him.
Favorite golf course you have played? I have several to check off the list, but Bandon Dunes is my favorite so far. I really enjoyed Old Mac with the links style right on the ocean.
Short term goal with your game? Play in more Mass Golf events
Dream vacation location? Trip to New Zealand with plenty of golf
What is your favorite golf course? George Wright – I am a Donald Ross lover and a public golfer through and through
What is your favorite hobby? (besides golf) My golf obsession doesn’t leave much time for other hobbies.
Chipping or putting? Long putts (don’t let my match play opponents know I hate short putts)
Favorite part of being on Mass Golf’s Board? Bringing the ideas and concerns of the many women I play with to the attention of the board.
What is your favorite golf memory? Me and my dad lying on a putting green staring up at the stars on vacation
What is your favorite golf rule? You have three options if your ball lands in SPIT or someone SPITS on your ball – play it as it lies, casual water, or loose impediment (who would choose that?)
Dream foursome? My buddies – Val Casella, Kati Bengtsson, and Daria Insalaco
Favorite ice cream? JP Licks Kahlua with heath bar crunch sprinkled on top
Bucket list golf course top 3? Augusta, St. Andrews and Whistling Straights
What is your favorite golf memory? A couple of years ago I went to Ireland with some friends. Our first round was at Lahinch; it was overcast and misty, but I loved every minute of it as it was everything I had expected from Ireland. The scenery was beautiful at every course we played, and the Irish people were welcoming and have a wonderful sense of humor.
What are your Top 3 bucket list golf courses? Bandon Dunes, Whistling Straights, St. Andrews
What is your favorite hobby? (besides golf) I enjoy cycling and running.
What advice would you give to someone interested in being more involved in tournament play? For someone interested in tournament play, I would suggest they start with a partner event. That is a great way to ease into competitive golf, and it is also gives you the opportunity to meet and play with new people, and a chance to perhaps makes some lifelong friendships.
What is your favorite golf drill? I don’t necessarily have a favorite drill but I have discovered during the past few weeks that I definitely need to spend time on the range warming up before playing!
Chipping or putting? Putting for sure!
Favorite golf course in Massachusetts? I love Farm Neck for the serenity and scenery.
Advice for the 1st tee? Breathe!
Favorite part of being on Mass Golf’s Board? Mass Golf (and previously the WGAM) has given me the opportunity to meet and work with people I never would have met during my professional career. Working the championship committee and being rules volunteer has given me new challenges which I have enjoyed and embraced.
What is the best advice you ever received? Find a caring mentor who will help elevate you in education, career and/or golf!
What is your favorite golf memory? I was fortunate enough to travel to Scotland for the first time two years ago with my husband and 6 other friends. It was primarily a golf trip, and naturally one of the bucket list items was to play the Old Course at St. Andrews but we couldn’t seem to snag one of the coveted tee times through the maze of lottery options. Our unlikely hero overheard us talking and offered to take us out. I teed off with my husband and bus driver, Stuart, as a “local” in the late afternoon of a beautiful Scottish day, walking with a push cart and finishing 18 just before it got too dark to see our balls. It was a magical experience to play the Old Course this way and then finish in the 19th hole at The St. Andrews Golf Club with Stuart overlooking the 18th green. It was a perfect day and one I will NEVER forget.
What is your favorite snack on the golf course? Kind Bar (salt and dark chocolate)
Dream foursome? Arnie Palmer, Annika Sorenstam, Tiger Woods
What is your favorite hobby? (besides golf) You might be surprised to know that I sing and play the piano. I put my ear buds in and jam to songs off Spotify that I have sheet music to…it becomes a fantasy band experience!
Favorite golf course in Massachusetts? This is such a hard one, since I truthfully have only played about one-third of MA courses and so many are very special for different reasons, but…the history of Francis Ouimet’s improbable win as an amateur at the 1913 U.S. Open with his young caddy, Eddie, pulls my heart strings every time! Vote goes to Woodland Golf Club, where Francis was an actual member and is represented as one of 3 stars in the logo (and where I am currently a member) and The Country Club where it all happened.
Dream vacation location? South Africa…golf, vineyards & safari
Short term goal with your game? Improve putting…think 1 putt!
Favorite part of being on Mass Golf’s Board? Working with kindred spirits who want to see the game that we love grow and “hook” others.
