UFV’s golf season is looking promising after bringing home their second consecutive bronze at the Canada West (CW) Championships in Kelowna last year. In a conversation with Morgan Best from UFV’s women’s golf (WGOLF), the anticipation for her upcoming tournament at Reflection Bay Golf Club in Las Vegas was real—as are UFV’s hopes to achieve their next big feat.
Best reflected on feeling the heat at the previous Championships, speaking on playing under great pressure, and expressed the importance of remaining humble and collected in her next approach.
Even though there’s undeniable excitement, the nerves have settled into Best as the tournament approaches. The expectations are higher this time around, but she’s mindful about not being overconfident in her approach.
“I was very nervous [last time],” she said. “It was my first time ever actually playing in the States before, especially [in the] South [where] the courses are quite different. I was a little intimidated, but I know the course a little better now, so I’m definitely more comfortable going into [it].”
When it comes to self-improvement, Best continues to work on the mental aspects of golf throughout the active and off season, including being more positive and having less doubt in her own abilities. Being invested in every shot is crucial, but draining when spending the entire day on the course.
“It’s such a long and tiring sport, maybe not all the time physically, but mentally it’s exhausting … it’s about 11 hours of having to focus on tournament golf.”
The team’s biggest challenge will be coming back to tournament golf from a big break after courses were closed for winter. On the course, it will be navigating the type of grass, as it determines how fast balls will roll off of swings.
Every player brings something valuable to the team. McKenna Farlin is the newest recruit of UFV WGOLF who Best described as a positive asset.
“She brings a really good perspective on how to take different shots. Even though she might not have a good day on the golf course, she still maintains that same ‘I finished the round’ mentality.”
There’s always room for improvement in your chosen craft. Best is focused on one simple thing for this season—to be better at golf than she was last year.
“Last year, my first two rounds were pretty tough. I felt very uncomfortable on the golf course. I felt a little lost, and a lot of times I found I couldn’t make decisions on my own—I’d want my coach to be there. Over this past semester, I tended to be more alone [on] the course, which I quite enjoyed, and then just having my coach there in key moments where I do need someone else’s opinion. So I just want to make sure that I’m able to [make decisions] on my own and have the confidence to just keep playing and figuring things out [on] my own.”
Best will take the course next on Mar. 30 at Abbotsford’s Ledgeview Golf Club for a CW matchplay. Be sure to mark your calendars because you won’t want to miss the future, improved champions ramp up their season.
Veronica is a Staff Writer at The Cascade. She loves to travel and explore new places, no matter how big or small. She is in her second year at UFV, pursuing the study of Creative
Writing.
