Hi everyone! My name is Mia Housman, and I am one of the Marketing and Communications Interns this summer at Mass Golf. Coming into this internship, I had played one nine-hole round of golf in my life – when I was nine years old. I’m a more frequent flyer of the driving range, but still feel intimidated by the game of golf and its cult-like following! This list is a guide to my personal mindset when it comes to golf, and what works for me as a relative newcomer; despite the source of this advice, it may serve as a refresh for all of you seasoned players!
This might sound a bit surface level, but I am a firm believer in dressing for success. I’ve found that dressing the “part”, in this case, a golf aficionado, has helped me both relate to my coworkers, as well as to our audience. As many of you might agree, there’s something about putting on an outfit specifically designed for your activity that brings a sense of community, pride, and flair to the activity itself. You know the saying: look good, feel good. I find that my confidence in my game (whatever there is to it), and my sense of belonging increases when I am wearing something I feel good in.
I am sure a lot of you already do this, but something that has significantly helped me learn the game and set expectations for my swing has been watching professional golf on TV. My dad usually has it on anyways, but when I was younger, I didn’t pay attention to it; to be honest, I usually fell asleep. As a result of this position, however, I have stayed awake to watch the PGA and LPGA tournaments, paying careful attention to each player’s pre-shot routine, and how they position themselves to hit each ball. This has given me a standard to refer to when I’m practicing at the driving range and keeps me in the loop on conversations about golf, and the top golfers in the world. It’s always insightful to know the leaders in your sport, and what is working for them!
Continuing with the theme of golf conversations, talking about golf when you’re off course is a great way to continue to learn from your peers, and also stay updated with the goings-on in the golf world. It will also make you more comfortable in situations where it is beneficial to know golf; maybe you’re at a business outing, or the water cooler talk is all about somebody’s backswing troubles. Putting yourself in a situation to be helpful and/or demonstrate your knowledge of the sport is a great way to keep yourself sharp!
Golf geeks are probably the best “secret weapon” to the fake it ‘til you make it plan. Rather than being intimidated by their seemingly endless golf knowledge, use it! They have tips and tricks that likely aren’t “mainstream” and could set you apart from your peers in conversation and in practice. I consider a few of my coworkers to be golf geeks, and when I can, I listen to their conversations, which tend to unlock entirely new concepts to me. Lean into their passion for the sport! If you’re already a self-proclaimed golf geek, look out for us newcomers… we want to know golf in the ways you do!
The concept of “fake it ‘til you make it” might seem like you need to pretend to know everything. I disagree. You might dress the part, watch the tournaments, and engage in golf-driven conversations, but inevitably, there will be a technique, player update, or course that you don’t know about- ask the questions. It doesn’t really matter how long you’ve been playing golf; the sport is always evolving, and you might miss things! Being able to ask questions and learn for the sake of understanding your sport better will only help you in the long run. The nerves of asking for help, I’ve found, never truly go away; but the reward of learning something new and growing in your love of golf is well worth the anxiety.
Finally, the key to all of this is confidence. Be confident in the knowledge you already have, in the new things you learn, and in yourself! I joined a chipping session at a recent clinic held at The Links at Mass Golf; originally, I grabbed a pitching wedge as a joke, a one-off about how bad I am at golf. Then, I chipped about 30 balls onto the green ad suddenly felt like I could play 18 holes with ease. Finding your confidence in the game will propel you into fully understanding it, and enjoying it more than you ever have.
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