FIVE years in the past, Nambucca Heads Island Golf Membership’s high novice Darcy Habgood left Australia for America to review and play faculty golf at Washington State College with a need to finally take the enormous leap into taking part in skilled golf.
The 25-year-old gave it a red-hot go in a sport the place solely the easiest gamers make a profitable dwelling taking part in the sport, however now she is again house to plan her subsequent profession transfer whereas working on the golf membership.
Armed with a level in public relations and advertising in addition to a minor in sports activities administration, Darcy, the daughter of Nambucca’s standard membership skilled Paul Habgood, is the membership’s bar supervisor and manages the membership’s social media.
Successfully, she is house to recharge her batteries forward of a return to the US to tackle a job as an assistant coach at one of many main schools.
“I can’t inform you but which faculty has provided me a place till it’s official and I signal the contract,” mentioned Darcy, who’s engaged to an American (Ethen Thompson).
As a high novice, Darcy honed his expertise beneath the steering of her dad Paul when he was the membership professional at Queensland’s Center Ridge GC (Toowoomba) from 2002 to 2017.
“I had a superb faculty profession and performed nicely in my senior yr,” Darcy mentioned.
“After I graduated, I made a decision to pursue a profession in skilled golf and went to the LPGA Q-College and acquired via stage 1.”
SWEET SPOT: Darcy Habgood in motion.
Sadly, Darcy simply missed out on getting via stage 2 and ended up taking part in a variety of occasions on the Epson Tour – America’s secondary tour.
“I didn’t play nice and got here house and performed a variety of ALPG Tour occasions just like the Bonville Traditional and the NSW Open, which was numerous enjoyable and about studying what it means to be a professional.
“However in the long run golf turned demanding and I wasn’t having fun with it as a lot as I did earlier than I turned a professional.
“I simply wanted an honest break and I haven’t touched a membership in three or 4 months and I’m probably not lacking it. I beloved golf rising up as a child and couldn’t get sufficient of it.
“However taking part in professionally I put an excessive amount of stress on myself and when prizemoney turns into your lifeline it’s much less satisfying and I misplaced the drive to follow and play. It was demanding and, for me, golf was by no means like that.
“Coping with that facet of the sport was a brand new expertise.
“It’s very costly and I don’t suppose I realised that till I used to be placing up the cash for Q-College and occasions,” she mentioned. “It’s so laborious to be in that one per cent of means. I believe I had it, however my mind acquired in the best way.
“I labored very laborious on the psychological facet of the sport. We had a fantastic psychological coach who introduced numerous mild to the significance of getting a robust psychological capability if you’re taking part in.
“It’s about not being focussed on outcomes, however how necessary processes are.
“I made numerous enhancements and my dad at all times mentioned to me ‘it’s simply golf – it’s the identical factor however now you might be simply taking part in for cash’. You possibly can’t take into consideration taking part in for cash, it’s about simply taking part in golf – maintaining it easy.
“I struggled with that transition of getting a lot extra on the road.”
Darcy says she doesn’t remorse her choice to pursue an expert taking part in profession.
Darcy hasn’t given up hope about taking part in golf once more, however she doesn’t have the urge to play professionally.
“I wish to play once more, however I don’t have the itch proper now,” she mentioned. “I’m simply ready for it to return again so I can exit and have enjoyable once more.
“After I go into teaching in school, I wish to play once more so I can put myself in a participant’s scenario. So, I’ll begin slowly by practising for an hour to get again into the groove.”
Nonetheless, Darcy is having fun with the change of tempo in her function at Nambucca Heads Island Golf Glub the place she has loads of interplay with the workers and members.
“Working on the membership has been enjoyable and interacting with the members is one thing I actually get pleasure from,” she mentioned. “And being house with household is nice … particularly after being away for almost 5 years.”
Darcy instructed Inside Golf she was planning to return to America mid-year.
