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Instead , she developed an admiration for esteemed Enniscrone head professional Charlie McGoldrick and how he helped young players grow . At age 13 , a spectator asked at a club championship if she aspired to play on the LPGA Tour , and Holmes responded , “ No , I want to do what Charlie does .”
Holmes attended Campbell University in North Carolina on an athletic scholarship with a personal mission : “ I want to teach full time , and I want to call it the ‘ Michelle Holmes School of Golf ,’” she said . Holmes eventually founded her own golf academy in 2011 and continues to attribute her father , as well as McGoldrick , as instrumental leaders in her golf career .
“ I think that ( McGoldrick ) was the first person that made me realize that what we do as coaches really does matter , and it really does help change lives and impact lives ,” Holmes said . “ I am very proud of the academy we have built .”
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Macie Rasmussen is among the students who attend the Michelle Holmes School of Golf .
As well as having McGoldrick serving a large role in her career path , Holmes , who operates three Michelle Holmes School of Golf locations in Hampton Roads , honors her father as a positive role model . “ My greatest influence in life is my father . I ’ ve never met anyone more persistent or to have a better work ethic !” she said . “ It is because of his influence that I have developed the work ethic , determination and stubbornness to achieve my goals .”
Holmes considers her academy her largest accomplishment in golf , as it welcomes 500 young golfers through its doors every year . Sixty percent of Holmes ’ program enrollees are female athletes , and when reflecting on that statistic , Holmes said , “ You don ’ t see that too often . That growth has been very special to us .”
Macie Rasmussen and Alexis Goboy — two of Holmes ’ s students who are members at Greenbrier Country Club in Chesapeake — learned how to grow relationships
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with others and became comfortable with one another outside of golf with Holmes ’ help .
“ I just trusted her from the start ,” Rasmussen said . “ The main thing she has taught me is that everyone is going to hit a bad shot , and , even if you hit a bad shot , you just have to move on …”
Looking for a social outlet outside competitive golf , Goboy labeled Holmes as one of her mentors growing up , adding that over the years she has felt comfortable around Holmes .
“ We all have established close relationships ,” Goboy said . “ We can talk about school or anything outside of golf while we ’ re practicing or having our lesson , so you can let that all out and you have that sense of closeness — it ’ s not just golf .
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BEN WALLS |