You've been taking lessons. You've been practicing. You're doing everything you're "supposed" to do. But last week on the golf course, you topped three drives in a row, lost four balls in the water, and wanted to snap your 7-iron in half over your knee.

You drove home wondering why you even bother.

Here's what I want you to know: This feeling doesn't mean you should quit golf. It means you're in the messy middle of growth, and you need a different strategy.

Can we talk about your golf bag for a second?

You know that moment in the spring when the weather finally breaks and you're SO excited to get back on the course... only to realize your bag is a disaster zone?

Yeah. That moment.

The crusty glove. The three scratched golf balls rattling around. That towel that could probably stand up on its own.

Here's the thing: The best thing you can do for your golf game right now has nothing to do with your swing.

It's getting organized NOW so that when those first warm days hit, you're actually ready to play instead of scrambling to get your gear together.

You're thinking: "I'll play when I'm better. When I'm ready. When I won't embarrass myself."

But here's what I've learned after working with hundreds of beginner women golfers: that day will never come if you wait for perfection.

You can't become a golfer by endlessly hitting balls at the range and never stepping foot on a course.

The transformation happens in the messy middle. It happens when you top the ball off the first tee in front of strangers. It happens when you three-putt from six feet. It happens when you lose four balls in the water on hole number three.

Those aren't failures. Those are milestones.

Here's the thing I see all the time – women showing up to the course in gorgeous fall pieces that are completely wrong for golf. They look adorable but they can't make a proper backswing without their sweater riding up or their sleeves restricting their movement.

We deserve better than this! We deserve to look good AND play our best golf.

That's exactly why I put together my fall golf wardrobe guide.

"What if I hold them up?"

"What if I embarrass myself?"

"What if I look like a fool?"

"I'll never golf with people who I know are good because I'd hold them up."

Sound familiar? If you've ever felt these doubts creeping in when someone mentions golf, you're not alone. These are actual quotes from women in our community - smart, accomplished, confident women who somehow lose all that confidence the moment golf enters the conversation.

Here's what I want you to know: You absolutely have what it takes to play golf. The question isn't about your capability - it's about overcoming the stories you're telling yourself.

I know some of you might be thinking, "Mary, isn't golf season ending?" But hear me out – fall golf is actually THE BEST golf. Like, hands down, no contest, the absolute best time to be on the course. And I'm going to tell you exactly why.

Me, frantically googling "What to do when your friend asks you to play at his country club" at 10 PM the night before a golf invitation. (That's where I learned it's apparently tacky to change into your golf shoes in the parking lot - who knew?!)

Then there was: "What are the different types of golf courses?" "How to fix a divot on the green?" "What should I wear to a charity golf tournament?"

I was constantly challenging myself to do something I hadn't done yet, but I was doing it ALL ALONE, panic-searching Google before every new golf situation.

While I had invested in the right equipment and lessons, the ONE thing I couldn't invest in was a guide. Someone to tell me the way. Someone to answer all those random golf questions that pop up at the worst possible times.

"I just don't have enough time to dedicate to playing golf."

If I had a dollar for every time I've heard this from accomplished professional women, I could probably afford a membership at Augusta National. I get it—between demanding careers, family responsibilities, and the countless other commitments that fill our days, adding another activity feels impossible.

But here's what I've learned over the past few years: You don't need to find massive chunks of time to make meaningful progress in golf. You just need to be strategic about the time you do have.

After a year of golf lessons, I finally got invited to play in a member-guest tournament with a senior leader I admired. But I had to back out because I didn't have a handicap—missing what could have been a career-changing networking opportunity. Golf lessons teach you to play golf, but they don't teach you to use golf professionally.

You're standing 20 feet away from an LPGA pro as she hits a 7-iron 143 yards and watches it land softly within feet of the pin.

Your jaw drops. Because THAT'S what precision looks like.

And suddenly, you understand something about this game that you've never quite grasped before.

That's the magic of watching professional golf in person - and it's happening right here in Cincinnati this week at the LPGA Kroger Queen City Championship (September 8-14 at TPC River's Bend).

The data is clear: golf isn't just a game in the business world—it's a career tool. With 80% of professionals finding networking essential to their career success and nearly 1 in 3 small business owners saying they've closed a deal during or after a golf round, can you afford to keep sitting on the sidelines?

I'm sharing everything you need to know about turning that intimidating company golf invite into a career-building opportunity.

Standing in a golf store feeling completely overwhelmed by endless options and confusing sales talk?

You're not alone.

Here's the thing: You're not buying golf clubs as a hobby. You're making a professional development investment.

Inside you’ll find my complete golf club buying guide specifically for professional women like you.

I created the Ultimate Golf Bag Checklist – not just another boring list of "bring clubs and balls" (thanks, Captain Obvious), but a personality-based system that helps you pack like the golfer you actually ARE.

With tips for everything from how to handle unsolicited advice at the driving range, to how to keep your mind calm & collected on the golf course - these podcasts will enrich and improve your golf experience!

Keep cool in the summer heat with the right strategy & gear around the golf course.

Keeping score is great… but it’s not enough. If you are excited to improve your golf game, learn about these golf stats and why they are important to your progress.

In this comprehensive guide on how to use a rangefinder, you’ll learn about the game-changing tool that eliminates guesswork and helps you play with the confidence you deserve.

✓ What a rangefinder actually is (and why it's different from those golf cart GPS screens)
✓ The two main types of rangefinders and which one might be perfect for YOUR game
✓ My honest review of a rangefinder I bought last year
✓ Pro tips for actually using your rangefinder effectively (including my embarrassing "blurry week" story)
✓ The one feature that could save you strokes on hilly courses (but can't be used in tournaments)

Look, I get it. Another gadget might feel overwhelming when you're still working on your swing basics. But here's what I learned after getting my first rangefinder: knowing your exact distance takes one big variable out of the equation, which actually makes everything else easier.

The LPGA Amateurs organization has 15,000+ women golfers (all skill levels!) with local chapters that host leagues, clinics, social events, and even golf trips. Think built-in golf buddies who actually want to play with beginners!

But is membership worth the cost?

Here is an honest breakdown – including what you really get for your money, how to find a chapter near you, and whether it's worth joining mid-season.

In my latest blog post, I share exactly when it's time to invest in golf shoes, what to look for, and the #1 mistake women make when shopping for them.

I also reveal my current favorite pair (they're SO comfortable) plus some great traditional options and even golf sandals for those hot summer rounds.