Chatting with Yogi On The Green

I had the pleasure to play with Adriana from Yogi On The Green at her home club The Heritage in Laois. We played 9 holes on The Ballesteros Course.

-Please tell me how you got into golf?

  Two years ago, my mother became ladies captain at The Heritage. My family went to the

Captain’s Drive-in and I couldn't believe the crowd  that was there. There was such a great

atmosphere and everyone was so enthusiastic to get out and play their golf. I was so proud

of her and thought, I have to give this a go.  My husband booked me into lessons

immediately after the Drive-in and I also participated in a ‘Get into Golf’ programme. I was

hooked from then on.

- I see you play with 3 generations of your family, how long is your mam and daughter

playing?

   My oldest daughter Maeve has been going to the driving range with my father since she

was about 3 or 4. She then participated in camps and is now a member with Portarlington

Golf Club for the past 2 years. She enjoys getting out and playing a few holes. She’s 9 years

old and so I don’t put pressure on Maeve to go practicing or force her to come out on the

course. She goes for lessons once a week but apart from that it’s very much on her terms.

Most of the time, it's her asking me to go golfing. I never want her to think of golf as a chore

but as something that she gets joy from. We always  head to the clubhouse or the café

afterwards and have a hot chocolate and a bag of crisps and talk about the good shots that

we hit. I think that’s her favourite part. 

Mum started playing 6 years ago, she’s made so many new friends and it really gave her a

new lease of life. My mother definitely took me under her wing and helped me a lot  when I

started playing. She informed me about golf etiquette, rules and got me out as much as she

could. I was very lucky to have her because I think getting out on the course can be very

daunting if you don’t have a mentor or someone to help you at the beginning. 

- I also see you play with your husband, father and son, so is golf a big part of family life?

    Yes, all the men in my life play golf too. I probably play the least amount of golf with my

husband. Its very rare that we both get out together. Having 3 kids under the age of 9 means

one of us has to be home minding kids but we do take turns and manage to get out for some

golf. 

- As working mom how to you schedule playing golf?

   This year I am job-sharing so I have a little more time on my hands. Every Thursday I have

a day off work and so I drop the kids to school and my youngest to play school and then get

to the course straight away so that I am back on time for school pick-up. At the weekend,

my husband and I take turns to get out. The most I would get out is twice a week and I find

it so important. I find I am in a better mood, I have more patience and have more energy

when I get out and play a few holes. It’s so important for  parents  to have some ‘me time’

and not feel guilty about it. Life can be busy and stressful and everyone deserves a break to

click that refresh button. 

- Yoga is a big part of your life, tell me more about how you got into yoga?

   I first went to yoga class when I was 18 years old and in the middle of my Leaving cert. My

mother took me as she thought it would help me de-stress. I honestly didn’t find it helped

with stress, but enjoyed the yoga poses and loved it for building strength.  As the years went

by, yoga changed for me.  Meditation and breathwork became so important. I finally

understood that there was meaning behind movement. Breath and movement started to

come together and I used yoga flows, as a form of meditation. The older I got, I realised that

it wasn’t all about having abs but just feeling better and improving mobility. 

In 2017 I completed my yoga teacher training and I am now in the process of getting a yoga

studio up and running.

- How do you think Yoga can help when playing golf? 

  Yoga helps improve balance, mobility and strength, all of which are vital  for a good swing.

Golf is also a very mental game. I find that my mood impacts how I play. If I am not in a good

headspace,  I don’t play well. This is where meditation, visualising and breathwork comes

into play. Bringing your heart rate down, taking your time and positive self talk is just as

important as the physical side of yoga.

- I love your yoga and golf page combined, what is your top yoga pose/tip for a golfer?

 Tight shoulders will hinder your swing. Poses like thread the needle are great for opening up

the shoulders before a round. 

Another great pose is Downward facing Dog, This targets many areas such as the shoulders,

arms, spine and hips, all of which are important for good rotation in our swing. 

 If you find yourself in a position where you are running late for a tee-time and you don’t

have the time to warm up and hit a few balls or get to the putting green. It is important to

try and get that heart rate down by taking a couple of deep breaths in through the nose and

out through the mouth  and practice positive self talk if you do hit a bad shot. 

-What golf club are you apart of? 

I have been a member of the Heritage Golf resort for the past 2 years and this year I have

also joined Portarlington golf club. My parents play at the heritage and my husband and kids

are members in Portarlington. 

- What was your biggest fear as a female joining your golf club and playing in club

competitions? 

I always used to fear people playing behind me. I was always so nervous about holding other

people up. I was also nervous about what they would think of me when I hit a bad shot or

couldn’t get out of a bunker! 

-What advice would you give a young girl or lady wanting to join a golf club?

 To ladies starting out, I would say don’t worry about people playing behind you. If you are

holding people up, simply let them play through. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, be

brave and add yourself on the BRS. Get out as much as you can and don’t be afraid to ask

questions if you are unsure about rules. 

-What is your favourite club in your bag?

My 5 hybrid is my go-to club. It gets me up the fairway when I need it. I can depend on it

when my 3 wood is playing up ( and that happens quite often!)

-What is your favourite golf course you’ve played apart from your own club course?

 I played Corballis recently, It was a links course and I absolutely loved the views and run on

the ball, especially after the winter season. 

-What is your current handicap and your future handicap goal this season?

I started with a handicap of 54 and I am currently at 40. I really want to get down to the 30s

this coming season. I worked pretty hard over the winter and kept up the golf so I am hoping

it will pay off.

- Have you any golf plans for 2024?

I have been asked to play in an Interclub event with my club. The event is for people with

handicaps of 36 and over. I am looking forward to the experience and I am sure I will learn a

lot from it.

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For more details on The Heritage visit https://www.theheritage.com/golf.html