England Regional Golf Squad member, Darcie Smith, is a rising young golfer from Camber in the UK. After noticing Darcie’s great progress via her dad Darren’s Twitter account (@DarcieBecsCaddy), we set up a short Q&A with this potential star of the future.
Hi Darcie, thanks for being part of womensgolf.com. How old were you when you started playing golf?
I started just before my 7th birthday having lessons on a Saturday at the local driving range in Lydd and playing their Par 3 course. When I was 10 I started taking it more seriously and got my first handicap just after my 11th birthday. Golf is a great sport for me because I know that I can do for the rest of my life.
What is it that you love most about the game of golf?
I love that it gives me a challenge to always better myself. It is very unpredictable as you never know what is going to happen when you first tee up. I like the exercise that it gives me and the sense of achievement when you have a good round or a good practice session when you are working on something new. When I have a bad round or something goes wrong, I know that I have a purpose to my next practice session to work that out of my game. I have also made many friends already through playing golf that I wouldn’t have met if I didn’t play and the social side of it (even as a junior) is great fun.
Your swing is free flowing and terrific Darcie, who is your coach?
Actually, I’m really lucky to be learning from two great coaches. For the last two years I have been getting lessons from Richard Silman at Tenterden Golf Club, who I was introduced to through my school. As part of the England Regional squad I also get coaching from Matt Antell at Reigate Hill Golf Club.
Darcie Smith loves the game of golf and is always striving to improve. She is exceptionally dedicated, determined and a very fast learner who adapts to technique changes very quickly.Darcie’s handicap has really come down recently thanks to some technical adjustments to her swing and Darcie’s hard work on the practice range.Richard Silman – PGA Professional, Tenterden Golf Academy
I have enjoyed working with Darcie for the past 10 months as her England Golf Regional Squad Coach. In this time she has worked hard on developing many areas of her game but her driving and putting have improved in particular, as has her approach to her fitness.Matt Antell – England squad coach, Surrey Golf Lab
We all have favorite players and role models. Who are yours?
In the men’s game, it would be Jordan Spieth. I think he has a lovely swing and admire the way he doesn’t get flustered. He seems a really nice guy who has a lot of time for his fans. I love watching him because he has a great passion for the game. In the ladies game, my favourite player is Cheyenne Woods. I was lucky to meet and chat to her on the driving range at the Ladies European Masters at the Buckinghamshire last year. She was really friendly and down to earth. Her golf is amazing and I think it is great that she came over and played on the Ladies European Tour.
Rye Golf Club
Chart Hills Golf Club
Where do you play and practice?
I am a member at the Nick Faldo designed course, Chart Hills in Kent and at Rye Golf Club in Sussex. I like the different styles of golf they both need with Chart Hills being an inland course with lush fairways, lots of bunkers and water hazards whilst Rye is a traditional links course with fast tight fairways and where the wind plays a massive part in how you play the course. Both courses are very challenging and require you to have good course management. The practice facilities at both are really excellent and give me great opportunity to work on my game.
Which of your clubs is your favourite?
I love to use my putter because… my favourite club (at the moment) is my new Ping Anser 2 adjustable putter. I have only just bought this as I was given a new putting stance, a bit like Michelle Wie, by my England coach and this putter set at 31″ suits that style much better than my old putter. I am already seeing my putting stats improve in just a few weeks of using it which has meant that my scores are coming down. I feel really confident with it and feel like I can hole many more putts because my putts are rolling much better.
Thank you Darcie (and dad Darren!) for being part of our Girls Golf section It’s been a pleasure catching up with you and we’ll be watching your progress closely – consider us Darcie Smith fans!
Show your support by following Darcie Smith online on Twitter via @DarcieBecsCaddy
