Oh wow, what a crazy week. I’ve been watching the AT&T Pro-Am on-line and following #ATTProAm from the fan view of @TimLangGolf @BlackGirlsGolf @thedanplan & @kthorsford. I love how even people that live in those cold cities in the NE are able to enjoy the warmth and fun of the golf from twitter. These four fans have been sharing like crazy all the fun from the golf course. Who are the four fans? Let me share a little bit about each one of them with you. The Foursome is comprised of: Tim Lang- Military Veteran, Katie Horsford- First Tee mentor, Dan McLaughlin of The Dan Plan and Tiffany Fitzgerald of Black Girls Golf.
For starters on Twitter, I found @BlackGirlsGolf to be so fun to watch and keep up with on Twitter. She is so engaging and lively, I could really feel her personality as she tweeted.
How’d you like to be a Marshall at @attproam. Check out that outfit. #ATTProAm attp #ATTBLOGGER pic.twitter.com/1bXdmcSSRI
— Black Girls Golf ™ (@BlackGirlsGolf) February 11, 2015
As a black woman working in corporate America, Tiffany Fitzgerald felt like an outsider. She saw co-workers and even interns rising above her professionally based on relationships they made on the golf course with company execs.
Tiffany knew nothing about golf. Growing up in Oakland, she was never exposed to the sport. But that didn’t stop her. She was determined to learn. So she purchased a $100 bag of clubs and hit the course.
After a few months of practice, Tiffany invited some coworkers to play a round of golf and, by the time they were done, she was no longer “the black girl in marketing.” She was “Tiff.” She suddenly found herself on the inside.
Tiffany took a huge risk, left corporate America to start Black Girls Golf, an organization dedicated to teaching the sport to black women. Black Girls Golf has helped numerous black women become insiders in corporate America, gain confidence in themselves and fall in love with the sport of Golf.
Got to meet Jordan Spieth today!!! Definitely can say, BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!! @JordanSpieth #ATTBLOGGER #ATTProAm pic.twitter.com/plIJaMzMFV
— Katie Horsford (@kthorsford) February 11, 2015
Like many kids, Katie Horsford was shy and lacked confidence. She was quiet and unassuming. She didn’t quite know where she fit in and felt uncomfortable in her own skin.
When Katie was 12, she began taking golf lessons but, for years, she was so quiet and unassuming that her coach couldn’t even tell if Katie enjoyed the sport. But she did. She loved it. And, secretly, she began dreaming of playing in the PGA.
As Katie’s skills improved, her coach could literally see a transformation. Katie began walking with more confidence and became more outgoing. She made close friends through golf and, as a freshman, she made her high school’s varsity golf team.
Katie became more focused on her training and finally shared her goal of becoming a professional golfer. With the support of her coach and friends, she began winning tournaments and finished second in the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach; proof that her dream was realistic.
Today Katie is a confident 17 year old with a close circle of friends and a strong sense of purpose. In addition, she has become an inspirational figure in her local golf community and a mentor to younger girls in The First Tee program who look up her as a role model. She credits golf for her dramatic transformation, but insists that her story is far from over.
Katie is excited to meet Jordan Spieth at Pebble and to get a sense of what her future golf career could be like.
It was really cool that she got that shot of herself with Jordan Spieth!
The other two Tim Lang and Dan McLaughlin also did a great job sharing this from the golf course. Tim shared quite a few great shots of the course.
View from Sky Box. This is how a fan experience should be! Great ppl, venue, food, & view! #ATTProAm #ATTBLOGGER pic.twitter.com/G6ZG705vqS
— Tim Lang (@TimLangGolf) February 11, 2015
Tim has an interesting perspective since he was a Marine.
While serving his country as a Marine in Iraq, Tim Lang’s leg was badly injured by an IED explosion. After 48 different operations, he made the difficult decision to have his leg amputated and fell into a profound depression. He had always been a competitive, athletic person and assumed that part of his life was over.
Then, almost by a fluke, Tim discovered golf and was shocked at how he fell in love with the sport. He began training, attacking it with the fierce determination of a warrior. Gradually, his golf game improved, his body began to heal and, most importantly, his depression began to lift.
“Golf pretty much finished what doctors were able to start,” he says. “It made a world of difference mentally, emotionally physically. It became my satisfaction. I was able to feel like a human being again. It gave me the self confidence that I missed for so long.”
Conquering the game of golf, one of the most difficult sports, became a motivating force for Tim to improve every aspect of his life. He has now turned lessons he has learned from his golf training into a career as a guest speaker, motivating other disabled and abled body people to never give up, never quit. Tim is excited to learn about new golf technology at Pebble.
Never thought I would take a selfie with @GitRDoneLarry and Michael Bolton, but then last night happened. #ATTProAm pic.twitter.com/xFJx0rv6c5
— Dan McLaughlin (@thedanplan) February 12, 2015
When Dan turned 30, he did what every average person does – quit his job as a commercial photographer and picked up a golf club for the first time, with the simple goal of mastering the notoriously difficult sport. No big deal.
He was inspired by the idea that if you dedicate 10,000 hours of deliberate practice toward something, you can achieve mastery. He created “The Dan Plan” to prove to himself and others that through raw persistence, it’s never too late to start a new pursuit in life.
Since April 5, 2010, Dan has made the mastery of golf his life. Starting with just a putter and working his way up to a full set of clubs, Dan has documented every hour and round played over the past 5 years. Photos, blogs, videos – all featuring an average guy on an extraordinary journey to prove hard work, not talent, is the true factor that leads to success in life. He has become an inspiration for people who have always dreamed about pursuing their passion, but never felt like it was a realistic option.
Dan has now completed over 5,000 hours of training. He still has his eyes on a PGA career but, more importantly, he’s discovery a profound feeling of happiness from just being on the journey.
Dan is excited to see Pebble for the first time, especially during an event like the 30 year celebration.
I am an #ATTBLOGGER. “This post is brought to you by AT&T, celebrating 30 years of the #ATTPROAM”
I do not know much about golf but I will say that the locations are beautiful! My husband is an avid golfer and would love all of this.
This is really fun. I grew up playing Golf – even played on the HS Golf Team. My hubby and kids love it and we play when we can. It looks like you had a great time! SO fun!
I must admit that all I know about golf involves little windmills and astroturf. I’ve never really been much for golf.
I really enjoyed hearing Tiffany’s story. As a female engineer there is definitely something to the old boys network. Glad she found that through golf she could break through.
That is so great! I love anything that empowers women like this. My husband loves it because, well… golf.