How this club pro played the U.S. Senior Women's Open, with little time to prepare

The assistant pro at the club where I'm a member played in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open. Susan Fasoldt, who works at Stoneybrook C.C. and Dorset Field Club, shot 75 in her qualifier at Boston Golf Club to get into the field at Barton Hills C.C. in Michigan. There, she shot 75 again in the first round. Ultimately, she missed the cut by one. Watching all of this unfold, I was pretty amazed. Because whenever I see Fasoldt, she’s working: teaching on the practice tee, helping run tournaments at the club, working in the shop. What I don’t often see her do is work on her own game. So I had to find out: How can she play such solid tournament golf with so little time to prepare?

Fasoldt says she practices putting at home, and when she does have time to go to the range or the course, she chooses playing golf over hitting balls. Even if she only has time to play two or three holes after work, she’s dropping multiple balls around the greens to practice different types of short-game shots. Whenever she’s able, she plays in tournaments to get comfortable with that feeling of playing under the stress of competition, of having to post a score. That way, when she’s playing in a tournament she really wants to do well in, those feelings aren’t a surprise.

“When I have very little time to practice, I focus on my setup, routine, and mindset,” Fasoldt says.

Setup

Indoors, Fasoldt sets up a mirror on the ground and gets into her setup while standing on an alignment stick. “This keeps my balance, posture, and alignment correct,” Fasoldt says. "When something in my setup gets off, the rest of my swing is a mess.”

Routine

When she does get the chance to practice, she works diligently on her routine. “I always start behind the ball and pick a target that offers a lot of contrast [like a tree's edge against the sky] so it stays in my mind when I look back at the ball before I swing,” Fasoldt says.

When you’re not practicing often, the practice you can do must be precise and focused. Seemingly small things, like choosing a target that's an easy image to hold in your head, can enhance your focus while you're practicing.

“I swing without standing over the ball too long,” Fasoldt says. “When I can do this, I can trust my ability better, and my swing is more free.”

Mindset

Even when you don’t have much time to practice, it’s OK to prioritize rest over using every free moment to get out on the course.

“This year I have made more of an effort to recover and rest when the season is busy, instead of forcing myself to go practice,” Fadsolt says. “I have done a better job at adjusting my mindset around this. In the past, I have told myself if I don't practice, I won't play well. And that actually isn't true. I play better when I am rested, with a correct setup and solid routine. I think this summer it's been a lot about getting myself in the right state mentally to use the skills I have.”