Navigating what it was like being on a masculine golf team.

For a large portion of my life I played field hockey, but once I got into seventh grade I decided to try out golf. I took lessons at Deer Run golf course and when eighth grade rolled around I began to participate in the sport on the GHS team. Even though I wasn’t permitted to compete because of my age, I used the time to prepare for freshman year.

Freshman year came around, and more people in my grade started to join the team. Still, I put in effort to engage fully on the team and did my best to make it to all the matches. Due to my diligence and hard work I became one of the top five players on the team. After freshman year the team got a new coach. Tryouts were a nerve wracking experience, I had been the only girl on the team, but even more boys were coming into the ranks.

Sophomore season was one of my worst seasons. I didn’t feel like an integral part of the team, like I mattered at all. The boys began to accuse me of cheating and even went as far as to get the coach to do another qualifying round behind my back when I qualified to play in the upcoming match. After I made the cut that day the boys began to cyberbully me and attempt to intimidate me even more. I attempted to tell the coach about what they were doing, and all he did was side with them. 

During my Junior season I applied myself to showing my male peers that I was just as deserving as them. I worked to make sure I was continuously improving. The boys still talked about me, but I didn’t let that stop me from showing I’m stronger than they think. My parents devoted themselves to encouraging me and urging me not to quit, and I greatly appreciated their motivation. It was hard knowing I couldn’t easily make friends like I did in field hockey. I felt alone and anxious and that made me lose my love for golf. I fought past the nerves that I felt during practice and the matches and made it to regionals. I met many girls I was playing against during regionals and everyone was kind and sweet. I won 7th place out of 20 girls in regionals, and earning that inspired me to stick to the sport.

But everything changed during my senior season. Another girl joined the team named Haley Johns. I got to mentor her and welcome her to the group. I felt happy to have a friend on the team and finally not feel so alone. Haley helped me enjoy my last golf season on the team, and I got to finish strong and play in my second, but last, regional tournament. Feeling out of place and lost shouldn’t stop you from trying your best. I will never get back those years I was criticized, laughed at, talked about, and bullied on the team, but I’m happy I stuck it out and played hard all 5 years. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do what a boy can do!