Jennifer Wyatt - Golf Professional

Thanks Jennifer for taking the time to spend some time with BCgolfguide.com. You are actually our first one-to-one Internet Interview, excuse us for not being able to be face to face. We are planning a series of Interviews with Golf Professionals and we want our interviews to have some British Columbia flavor.

wyatt3.jpg
Photo Credit - RCGA


Q1. Could you describe the defining point in time prior to turning professional that you officially caught the "golf bug"? Who the person was? Where, age?

My mum brought me some old right-handed, hand-me-down clubs when I was 12 years old, courtesy of Conrad Mackenzie, who is now my step-father. I started by hacking around the back yard in Richmond. I didn't like the feel at first because I was a "lefty" in hockey and soft ball (batting). Mum asked pros in the area if she should get me left-handed clubs, they told her, "just get her to play right handed."

When I was 14 years old, and I had been a member at Quilchena G.C.C. for a year, mum and I were painting the junior girls club room. We had been given some posters to decorate the walls with. And as I looked up at the poster of Amy Alcott clutching her U.S. Women's Open trophy, that was the
"a ha" moment. I remember thinking, "I want that."

Q2. What are your top 5 public courses in B.C. that you consider favorites and that you also feel are very "lady golfer" friendly, i.e. - difficulty?

Don't know if I'm the best person to answer this one... don't know too many public courses or newer courses... Good ol' McCleery is a pretty good course since all the improvements. I think "The Falls" is fun and it is so beautiful out there on the side of that hill, looking over the valley. Probably not very lady-friendly though.

Q3. Do you have a routine or regiment that you follow when preparing for events such as the qualifiers for the 2004 BMO Financial Group Canadian Women's Open?

See Q4

Q4. Can you compare your state of mind from last year considering you were awarded the 2003 Order of Merit with 580 points (well ahead of the pack) and now with the 1st event of 2004 now underway? Expectations? things you have done to prepare differently this year as opposed to 2003?

(two answers combined) Unfortunately, I don't do much preparation for these events, as I have a full teaching schedule at Pacific Coast Golf Centre in Richmond. Last year, I was more motivated to play and to do well. I planned my summer and tournaments around the Canadian Open because it was in Vancouver, at Point Grey; It was a goal to qualify for it.

This year, I am only playing in one BMO event at Swan-e-set. I am relying on the theory that playing golf is just like riding a bike and that I haven't forgotten how. I just have to relax before each shot, and let it happen knowing that I've done it a million times before. As for expectations, I have much less pressure than I would if playing golf was my primary source of income- those were the high-pressured good ol' days.

These days, I can actually enjoy the sight of two herrons flying over head and landing near the pond by the green: I'm in a tournament, but I'm also having a mini-vacation from work. I've never enjoyed playing golf like I do now. Thankfully, the Bank of Montreal gives us all an arena to play in.

Q5. When the competition factor is not "on" and you are playing for fun, do you have any BC Resort Destination that you enjoy the most? i.e. Radium? Kelowna? Can you elaborate why?

Playing tournaments is really all the "fun" golf I do, and a practice round here and there to get the rust off of the game. I actually prefer to go bike riding on days off. I cycle around the lower mainland.

Q6. What do you think could be done new or changed that would elevate the exposure of ladies golf in the professional arena?

Locally, I think more things like "this," like what we are doing here.... great idea, internet/email interview. I think we need more events to play in. It has crossed my mind that I would like to run or help to run a pro women's tournament, although I really don't know much about organizing an event (it seems overwhelming actually).

I will be going down to Seattle in June to play in the Thriftway Washington State Women's Open which is held annually there. It is run by Erin Szekely who is an LPGA Teaching Pro. She has grown the event, and every year it gets better.

If you are talking about the LPGA (or Futures Tour) arena, that is a tough one. I am a member of the LPGA Tournament Division, as a former player, and living up here now, I wouldn't know that there was a ladies tour equivalent to the PGA Tour, because the coverage is sparse and so inconsistant. There is amazing talent out there, but it is presented as second rate. I think the tour is doing a better job of showing off the personalities of the players with their website, which is filled with tidbits of what the players are up to. But the T.V. coverage is hard to find.

Annika put the LPGA on the map for a little while last year with her heroics at Colonial. Michelle Wie is making people take notice. It really takes likeable superstars to get the attention of the masses. (so I guess my answer is "I don't know, do you?")

Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to be apart of BCgolfguide.com's new one-to-one feature. We wish you all the best.

For more info on this event please read the RCGA archives of Canadagolfguide.com or check out the R.C.G.A. web site.
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