From Player to Coach: Nine Holes, Nine Questions with Eastern Women’s Golf Coach Bridget McLaughlin.

Eastern University Women’s Golf has been through a whirlwind. We started the season with five players, cut to three by our first tournament. We didn’t even have a head coach.

One of two problems was solved on Wednesday, Sept. 15. Bridget McLaughlin, Assistant Pro at St. Davids Golf Club, accepted a position as the head coach of EU Women’s Golf. McLaughlin joined the team with much excitement and anticipation.

I spoke with McLaughlin that fit perfectly in our player-coach relationship and practice schedule. During practice on the front nine holes of St. Davids golf club, I asked McLaughlin a question on each of the nine holes we played. Nine holes, nine questions.

Hole One: If you could play a round of golf with any professional in the game, who would it be and why?

“I would say Nelly Korda. She’s the number one professional on the LPGA Tour. She’s super consistent, it’s cool to see her process, and she stays really level-headed.”

Hole Two: What is your favorite club in your bag?

“Seven-iron. I’m pretty confident with it, I know it’s going to be solid most of the time, and I use it for a lot of approaches into the green.”

Hole Three: How do you approach providing solutions to players with mental and physical game struggles?

McLaughlin says that alleviating physical struggles are often a bit easier than alleviating mental ones. “Every player is a unique individual that reacts and responds to different situations in different ways.”

Hole Four: What are your favorite pre or post-tournament snacks/meals?

“During golf, Clif bars and Gatorade Zero, and post-round I love a good hot dog or a burger.”

Hole Five: Do you have any superstitions? If so, what are they?

Blisters are a golfer’s worst nightmare. “I don’t have any superstitions, but I have to wear nice Bombas socks. Otherwise, I get blisters, and it makes the rest of the day really uncomfortable.”

Hole Six: How has golf become such a big part of your life?

After being burnt out from ice hockey and softball growing up, McLaughlin decided to play golf in college. After finding a love for golf and graduating from McDaniel College with a degree in Business Administration, she found a place in golf retail and then in PGA leadership.

Hole Seven: If you could have a dinner party with three other people, who would they be and why?

“I’m going to go a little corny and say, my wife, my mom, and my sister,” McLaughlin answered.

Hole Eight: What is one timeless piece of advice you can give to any golfer?

“No one cares how bad at golf you are,” she said. She reminds players to focus on their own games because everyone is likely doing that already.

Hole Nine: What is one timeless piece of advice you can give to any athlete?

“Have fun. You will probably not have everything figured out until the sport you’re playing doesn’t matter, so just enjoy it.”