Baptism by Fire at Somerset Hills

Over the past two years, my golf life has looked a little different. I’ve been playing a lot more girl golf, something that wasn’t always part of my usual routine. And I’ve been loving it.

There’s something incredibly special about the women’s golf community. Most of the ladies I’ve met are unbelievably talented, wildly competitive, and yet somehow still so kind, encouraging, and down-to-earth. They root for you. They hype you up.

Recently, I played in my first-ever stroke play invitational, the inaugural Flag & Bow Invitational at Somerset Hills Country Club. It was as intimidating as it was exciting. I’d never teed it up in a stroke play format like this, and to make things more intense, it was run with precision, filled with elite players, and hosted at one of the top courses in the country.

Somerset is breathtaking. But don’t let its beauty fool you, the A.W. Tillinghast design is hard and challenging. The layout demands precision and strategy at every turn. The course is tough, and the greens? Well, they traumatized us a few times.

We played long. Like really long (at least for me). The yardage pushed every part of my game. Many of the women in the field had played college golf, and it showed. These girls can stripe it, get up and down, and drain putts. It was humbling and inspiring. I didn’t play junior golf or golf in college, so tournament golf is still relatively new to me. This was a big leap outside my comfort zone, and I felt it on the first tee. But I also knew, this is how you grow.

A huge shoutout to Flag & Bow and the WMGA; they absolutely nailed it. The event was thoughtful, professional, and overflowing with incredible details that made everyone feel seen. From personalized first tee gifts to fully stocked comfort stations on the course, from breakfast and lunch to the little touches on the range… every part of the experience felt intentional. It was polished without being intimidating, and welcoming without losing its competitive edge.

My group was unbelievably sweet, welcoming me in, encouraging every swing, and making sure I knew I belonged. That kind of support goes a long way when you're trying to quiet the noise in your head and just swing freely.

While it was a competitive tournament, it also felt like a celebration of women’s golf. And it was a reminder that growth happens when you lean into the discomfort, show up scared, and try anyway.

This was a big step in building up my competitive muscle, and now I just want more. More events. More reps. More of this incredible golf girl energy.

If this was the starting line, I couldn’t have asked for a better place to begin.