My Golf Journey

Written by Celia del Saz Rodríguez

Celia del Saz Rodríguez preparing to hit an approach shot to the green. (Photo courtesy of Celia del Saz Rodríguez)

Celia del Saz Rodríguez is a 15-year-old golfer from Guadalajara, Spain.

I started playing golf 2 years ago and my dad was the one who introduced me to the sport. At first, I didn’t like it because I thought it was boring and mostly for boys. Even so, I kept practicing and practicing. Golf has taught me to be patient and disciplined, even on the days when I don’t feel like practicing. It has also helped me become mentally stronger and taught me that improvement takes time and hard work. One of my favorite memories was during a tournament where I felt like I was playing really bad. I was disappointed with my game, so I was very surprised and happy when they told me that I had actually won. Competing in golf compared to other sports is a lot more different because of its mental and focused game that you challenge by yourself. Training and competing on a team with only boys haven’t been the best thing. Sometimes I don’t enjoy it because I feel I don’t fit there because there are no girls, and I also tend to compare myself to them since many of them play better than I do. However, it has also been better to keep improving and work harder every day. My advice for younger female junior golfers is that you have good days and bad days, so keep practicing and focusing even if you feel you are not getting better.