Audrey

I’ve coached a girls’ golf team for 15 years.

And we’ve made it to the State Tournament one time.

We weren’t even supposed to make it, but some of my girls had a career round and the stars aligned.

We take the best 4 of 6 scores for two separate days.

And our score was the lowest.

To say we were shocked would be an understatement.

And I had one little 7th grader who was most shocked of all. And nervous. And freaking out… because she didn’t want to play.

Her score never had counted in the top 4. She had trouble breaking 120. She didn’t want people watching her. She didn’t want to embarrass herself.

It was a combination of a lot of factors that made her more and more nervous every day we got closer to the State Tournament.

She practiced her butt off. She did everything I asked. We talked about what shots she’d need the most. We talked about how to play certain holes.

But most importantly we talked about mindset.

Mostly because she didn’t think she belonged there.

She was one of only a few 7th graders out of 84 girls and it intimidated her.

We talked about keeping positive, just enjoying the moment, not worrying about score, and how to overcome nerves.

The last one was the toughest.

But we found something that helped.

She was the most nervous about the first shot of the round.

There would be a bunch of people watching and in her mind, judging her.

If there’s anything I’ve realized over the years on the golf course, nobody is judging you. They are too worried about messing up themselves to worry about anyone else.

The only person that tends to get into your head… is yourself.

Stay out of there. Stay present. And you’re good to go.

So back to the first shot of her round…

She had been anticipating this shot for many days leading up to the tournament.

We talked about it and I told her to go through her warmup, get set, and then before she swings, take a look at me.

Make her last look... me.

I like to think I have a super power and that’s bringing calm to a situation. (I also want to start a band called Awesome and Humble. Discuss).

So on her first tee box, she took her warmup, got ready, and glanced at me.

I gave her an assuring head nod as if to say, “You got this.”

She proceeded to rip one right down the middle and the wall of nervousness she built up quickly crumbled.

But the story doesn’t end there.

This little 7th grader is now a senior.

And throughout the years, she has grown into one of the best girls I have ever coached.

Not just because she is now the captain and #1 player on the team, but because she is resilient and a fighter. She works hard. She continues to have fun. And she learns… everything.

She is easily the most coachable person I’ve ever had. Because she asks how to do something, I show her, and then she practices until she gets it. It’s that easy.

And golf isn’t even her first sport.

She’s a hockey player.

An Olympian.

You can watch her play for the Minnesota Gophers next year.

But best of all coming into her senior year, she is now the calming presence on the golf team.

She takes the younger girls under her wing. She teaches. She leads by example.

We have those times where we don’t feel like we fit in or we don’t belong. We’re not good enough. Or we compare ourselves to others too much.

She didn’t believe it earlier, but I always did. She belongs. She has always belonged.

And not just because of her skill.

Or her hard work.

Or her perseverance.

But because of her heart.

Thanks Audrey.