Ready to go!

Hi All,
       I hope that this post finds you all happy and healthy!! With one day left until the tournament season kickoff, Bruce and I couldn't be more excited. We have been working incredibly hard, on and off the course, to prepare for the season ahead. In the last few weeks I decided to become a practice club member at The Raven Golf Club in Phoenix. This course gives me the opportunity to practice at a good facility, has a course I can challenge myself on, and a has a weekly skins match for me to test my game. If you aren't sure what a "skins" game is, you may be better off to "Goggle" it, than to sort through my complicated explanation.

        Apart from spending a majority of his time on the golf course with me, Bruce has started a physical training program for the other golf students that work with Kene Bensel. This program combines flexibility, speed, and strength all into one. Bruce came upon this opportunity when Kene stated that he didn't think his students were working out correctly or at all. He believes that using heavy weights and doing slow movement exercises (like squats) are nearly pointless for a golfer. After talking more with Kene, Bruce knew he could help. With five years experience as a Decathlete, a lot of Bruce's training, in the throws division, involved what's called "separation" between the athletes' hips and chest. This same movement is incredibly essential in the golf swing and is commonly known as "X-factor". Along with that, this program also incorporates stability and balance to improve the players' all around fitness, including, flexibility, speed and strength as previously stated. Since starting this 3-day a week program one month ago, Kene couldn't be more pleased with the results he is already seeing in his students. Not only can his students perform the golf swing in the way he instructs, but some are also picking up yardage with all of their clubs. So far, this has been an awesome opportunity for Bruce to teach what he is great at, and a way to supplement our income.
       In the last month, Bruce and I, have put more effort than ever before into pursuing our dream of playing golf at the highest level. We are excited and incredibly motivated to keep moving in the right direction toward this dream. I can't wait to see if our hard work will pay off this season!
 

2014

Happy New Year, Everyone!
           I hope you all had as much fun ringing in 2014 as Bruce and I did. As we enter into this year, we have so much to be thankful for and feel so blessed that we get to spend the next 365 days chasing our dream of playing on the LPGA.

         Over the last couple days we have created our tentative tournament schedule for the end of January through the end of April 2014. We are so excited that we have the opportunity to play in so many events and gain valuable experience without having to leave the state of Arizona. You can find that tournament schedule on the new tab I have created at the top of the page.
       With so many tournaments coming up, Bruce and I are spending a lot of hours on the golf course. Mainly, we have committed to working hard on the mental part of the game, something I have foolishly neglected for years!! As golf great Bobby Jones said, "Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course...the space between your ears." I think he is exactly right. Along with improving my mental strenght, we are also working hard on routine and course management, things that won't break down in pressure situations. Bruce has done a great job so far of holding me to these commitments.

        Lastly, I just want to say how incredibly thankful I am for the generous family and friends who have helped me financially and otherwise thus far!! Without all of you, I couldn't pursue this dream.  I also want to give a huge THANK YOU to Outback Golf Academy, for allowing me to volunteer in exchange for range and playing privileges at Western Skies Golf Club. I have enjoyed the experience working with younger players and teaching them the game that I love so much. I can not thank Craig Hocknull, Outback Golf, and Western Skies enough for giving me this opportunity and for being so incredibly encouraging !!! If you live near Gilbert, and want to get your kids into golf, I suggest you look into Outback Golf Academy. 
        That's all for now, thank you all again for your continued love and support!!