Carling’s Caddies

Hi golf world! It’s been a few weeks since my last blog and things have really been rockin! I just finished up a six week stretch of tournaments on the Duramed Futures Tour, and I’m so ready to go home and do absolutely NOTHING for just one day. But I’m sure it would have seemed even longer if I hadn’t played as well as I did, so I’m so glad I stuck it through! Here’s the scoop…

I made five cuts in a row (that’s five paychecks!) and I moved 25 spots on the money list. It feels good to be able to afford a few dinners out and I’m stealing much less from the player’s “lost&found” box these days- haha. My ‘daddycaddy’ had to get back to his normal job so I had actually experienced 3 different caddies. I never knew how great I had it with him!

First off, I was at a tournament ALL by myself and if you do not have a caddy the tournament will put your bag on the back of the cart and a “cart driver” will carry your clubs for you. I’ve heard some horror stories about cart drivers driving over the player’s ball, dropping the clubs on the cart path, or even offering a little advice they heard from their buddy Bob (who’s probably a 25 handicap haha). But mine was great! The only problem was being out there all by myself. Without my dad on the bag, how was I to know that the 8-iron is the right club? It looks like it should break left, but what if I’m wrong?? It was a whole different world out there and you really have to dig deep for the confidence needed to be successful out there. I finally told myself, “I’m going with this club, and if I’m wrong…then who cares! Let’s hit it with some authority!” Then maybe throw in a “booya!” to psych myself up. I struggled in the beginning with a 75, but came back with two 71′s to make a good finish.

Second, my ‘mommycaddy’ came in for the job.

Just doesn’t rhyme as well… But she was great. Of course, no matter where I hit the ball she would just smile and say, “that’s okay, you’re doing great!”  Honestly, it might have been a little annoying in the beginning.  “I’m in the tree’s mom, I am NOT doing great!”  But after a while I started to realize that this is actually the attitude I should be taking all the time.  So I remember when I was -1 under par and hit it in the lake on the last hole, and just when I was about to throw my club and ask someone, “who gave me my card!?”…I actually said, “It’s okay, you’re doing great…”  Then I went up there, dropped a ball, and got it up and down for par.  Again…Booya…

Finally, my boyfriend came in to caddy for me London, KY. If you’re wondering if he called me, “snooky” on the course…no…it was all business!  He played college golf at Ohio State with me and is an excellent player. It’s weird to have someone on the bag who actually knows what it feels like to be the player.  So he made sure to simply help me with some alignment issues and not get caught up with swing thoughts, he reminded me I was on a down-hill lie and to play it back, and he even gave me a little wink when I started out with a double bogey because he knows that horrible thought going through my head, “Am I going to double EVERY hole today?” But no…we came back to shoot -2 under and have a great week together.  A Paycheck and no break-ups?  Sounds like a winning week to me.

Now….He’s back! ‘Daddycaddy’ came back to me and was clubbing me better than ever!  I also used the great things that I learned and we had our best tournament in Richmond, VA. I shot -3 for the week and even played late Sunday with the winner. I’m feeling great about my game right now and with one more tournament to go, I think I have a good chance of being top 50 on the money list and finishing with style.

After this good stretch I even decided to….that’s right…take the plunge…and go to LPGA Q-School! It’s going to cost $5,000 and I dearly hope I don’t end up just being a “donater” by the end of the week (I’m def taking Dad with me this time!). It’ll be September 17-20 in Palm Springs. I’d say “wish me luck” but I don’t think luck is going to save me now. It’s all about confidence…and I have a good feeling about this one…I really do.

Thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee Golf Blog at www.sherrytabb.com.  We wish Carling great success in her final Duramed event in Albany, NY and especially in her first LPGA Qualifying School in Palm Springs.  Go Carling, Go!

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Tags: Carling Coffing, College golf, Duramed FUTURES Tour, LPGA Q-School, Ohio State