By Desiree Anstey
Ping!
It’s an exhilarating sound, says Sara Wilson, a PGA of Canada golf professional, as her club strikes the small golf ball balanced on a tee with one swift stroke.
Will this be another hole-in-one?
She watches with anticipation as the ball soars through the air.
Wilson notes with pride that she once scored two hole-in-ones in the same week, a rare and celebratory feat for any golfer.
Golf began as a solo act for Wilson at Idylwylde in Sudbury, Ont., at the age of 13.
It soon progressed to more than just a game.
“I learned through golf to build those life skills of confidence, resilience, leadership, you know, camaraderie and, eventually, a sense of community,” reflects Wilson, who, in 2013, launched a gateway into the world of golf for women and girls in Halifax through Metro Ladies Golf Inc.
“My parents and older brother played golf, and we were all competitive in multi-sports. However, with golf (at that time), you could only join the junior club at 13. I was the only girl attending weekly lessons, but I felt like one of the boys, hanging out with my brother and his friends.”
No longer a male-dominated sport
Over the past 20 years, from taking the game seriously at age 17 and competing at the local and then provincial levels as a professional, including working throughout the industry, Wilson notes that the adage of golf, one rooted in culture, is evolving.
“My friends had mentioned to me, you know, ’cause I’ve been in it so long, that it’s a male-dominated game. However, I have always been persistent, and now, through my business, I open doors for women who haven’t been part of a traditional golf club,” says Wilson, who now has over 170 members strong.
“It’s about making sure girls have exposure to a sport at a young age and giving them role models and leaders. I stay here (a golf coach) because I want more girls to see me, play the game, and make it.”
While there are rules and etiquette around the game, golf is fun, she says.
“There’s a social crowd, a game to master that can be played anywhere in the world and well into old age, and even opportunities.”
Wilson and the members of her club visit the Caribbean once a year for a leisurely game of golf.
“And if you play off-season or buy a pass, it can be very affordable,” she notes.
Wilson has played at some of the top-ranked golf courses, near and far, including the Cabot Links in Cape Breton, which has consistently ranked among the best in the country and world.
“There’s a place for everyone in the sport, which is the greatest part about it,” she notes.
“You can be a low skill level golfer and get a hole-in-one, and be a high-skilled golfer and never get that hole-in-one. Then you can have a short or long game; there are all different body types and skill levels, so it’s very rewarding in that way.
“I couldn’t imagine playing hockey without knowing how to skate, but in golf, you can hit an incredible drive and still not really know how to putt. Over time, you will learn those skills. You can learn from a driving range, putting green, or programs offered at the course. But when you see improvement, that’s when you get hooked.”
There’s a rising prominence and impact of women on and off the course.
“We just have to step out of our comfort zone and do things that are going to attract more to your facility,” says Wilson.
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