interviewed by Linda Clark
F or the
Features
Love of
Golf
Cheryl Mitchell, of the Potawatomi/Delaware tribes was raised on the Walpole
Island First Nation reserve in Ontario,
Canada and has been an avid golf fan
and player since the age of 10, (she
recently turned professional in July of
2005).
“My family have always had me around
the sport because there was a golf
course (Baldoon Golf Club) just off the
reserve and they would play a few rounds
a week,” Cheryl says, “I picked up a golf
club when I was 10 and would play a few
holes and then stop in the clubhouse
for a cheeseburger. It wasn’t until I was
12 that I took the sport seriously when
my parents took me to the Jamie Farr
Classic in Ohio (LPGA event) and I have
wanted to be a professional on the tour
ever since then. The best part of the sport
is that it is always a challenge. There is
no telling what can happen on the golf
course (i.e. you could chip in for eagle/
birdie and win a tournament). There is a
different course each week with different
green speeds, grass, there are so many
variables involved and I think that is what
makes it a challenge.”
What was your favorite or most memorable win and why? “2003 Investor’s Group
Ontario Ladies Amateur Championship at
Whitevale Golf Course. This was my first
big win and I was less than a month pregnant with son Robby (who is now 2 years
old). I didn’t know I was pregnant when
I was playing, it wasn’t until I returned
home and found out the wonderful news.”
What are some of the more difficult
challenges you’ll face to reach your
goal toward joining the LPGA tour? “I
would have to say being away from my
Husband and son. Right now my son
travels with me (my mother watches him
when I play) and my father caddies. It
is hard to be away from my husband for
long periods of time and I know that getting
to the LPGA will take a lot of hard work (time
practicing) and mental toughness (need to stay
sharp week in and week out). Another huge
challenge is finding the sponsor’s I need to
finance my tournament play. Right now it is very
difficult because I need to make money to get
me from tournament to tournament (so their is
some stress there). “
What’s your training (physical or otherwise)
schedule like for any given month? Do you do
any cross training to stay in shape? “I currently
don’t do anything other than golf (practice/play/
walk rounds). However, I do chase a 2 year old
around the house constantly if that counts. I am
realizing more and more ѡ