Last year marked the first year of a new tradition that shines a bright light on women's golf: the SCGA Women's Mid-Amateur Championship. This championship focuses on women who were competitive players earlier in life and want to continue scratching that competitive itch with similar golfers who don't compete as much as they used to.
In order to qualify for this championship, you must have a USGA Handicap Index of 9.4 or less and must be at least 25 years old.
Monica Martin took home the inaugural Women's Mid-Amateur first-place trophy in 2021. As a mother of two young sons, we dove into how golf became a part of her life, her experience playing in the SCGA Women's Mid-Amateur Championship, and more.
The Beginning Stages
Monica's father is a lover of golf, so she grew up around the sport. She remembers time at the driving range with him but loved the fact that he "never really pushed me or forced me to play." Though Monica played other sports growing up, when high school hit, she decided to try out for the golf team. "My first competitive round was a 9-hole match on the varsity team as a first-year. The rest is history!"
Love for the Game
We all have one thing in common: a love for the game of golf, but we're each drawn to it for a different reason. Martin gravitated towards the sport because it is a game that she and her family can enjoy together wherever they travel. It's also something she can play in all stages of life.
"I have some of the best memories playing golf with my parents on vacation in Hawaii and Mammoth. My husband and I played on our honeymoon and now we take our two-year-old son out in the late afternoons at our club and he runs down the fairways screaming in delight and whacking the ball."
A First Place Experience
Martin decided to enter the championship after winning her club's championship in 2020. She was thrilled to re-enter the competitive golf-sphere and jumped at the chance to play in the inaugural Mid-Amateur Championship.
Martin's experience with the championship was a great one. She appreciated that each group had its own rules official and that the course was in tip-top shape. In addition to that, she loved that she got to "[play] with great women both days and met some wonderful people."
However, her favorite part of the championship was "the feeling of adrenaline I felt in the last round of the tournament. I knew the race was tight, and even with some nerves, I was still able to deliver."
She sunk a long birdie putt on hole 16, which motivated her even further to take the trophy.
Martin won this tournament while seven weeks pregnant with her son, Michael. So, having her other son Matthew greet her on the 18th hole both days (and photo bomb her trophy shots) was a nice bonus, too.
"Maybe one day he will brag to his friends that his mom actually knows how to play golf!"
The Biggest Takeaway
With her victory, Monica was able to see "that this mama still has it." As a busy woman and golf coach, Monica doesn't get to play as often as she'd like. She went into the championship with no expectations, just eagerness to compete.
"(I) just wanted to enjoy myself and the golf, and I came out quite successful." Plus, she got some "street cred" with the girls of the Mater Dei High School golf team that she coaches.
The Importance of the Women's Mid-Amateur
Martin feels that the SCGA Women's Mid-Amateur Championship is important because it provides an opportunity for competitive players who also have busy lives to come [and] compete and show their talent on an even playing field.
"There isn't the intimidation factor of the 12-year-old superstars or talented college players who practice seven days a week."
That doesn't mean the competition in the championship wasn't a challenge, however. It was the perfect challenge that aligned with where Martin currently is in her life with golf.
"I hope this tournament grows even bigger and better! It is an awesome opportunity for other former college and competitive players to reunite even after years of not playing. I know we all still love the feeling of competing even though most of us have big girl jobs and/or families now."
If you are a female amateur golfer with a Handicap Index of 9.4 or less and are 25 years of age or older, consider registering for the 2022 SCGA Women's Mid-Amateur Championship, taking place March 21-22, 2022 at Bear Creek GC.