Colgate may be missing a trick in not signing up Carly Booth as a brand ambassador as she’s always smiling, come rain or shine. At the age of 11 she became one of Britian’s youngest club champions and was ranked No.1 junior in Europe after winning the European Junior Masters in 2007. The following year she became the youngest player to represent Great Britian & Ireland in the Curtis Cup and waited a further two years before turning professional on the Ladies European Tour.Her first victory came in 2012 at the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open. A month later she added another victory, at the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open, so you could say she’s had a lot to smile about. But, like many professionals, it’s easy to loose your focus, and that once carefree attitude can easily disappear with a few missed cuts. The following season Carly made just three cuts out of 16 events and was struggling to regain form but unless you were a close friend you would never have guessed. The 2014 season wasn’t much better but throughout her dark patch that smile was ever present and she was always keen to do what ever she could to support and promote the LET and draw positive attention to the ladies game. I’ve interviewed numerous big name Tour players over the years and when they’ve had a bad round you certainly know about it. Even when they had just picked up a cheque that would settle most mortgages you would struggle to get a smile out of them. In this exclusive interview Carly reveals the secrets behind that smile:
Worldwide Golf: As such a talented junior it seemed you were destined for the professional game – at what point did you believe golf would be your career?
Carly Booth: I was 11 years old when I managed to win three ladies club championships. It was at the time when I had to decide what sport I wanted to concentrate on. I was really keen on gymnastics at the same time but I stood out more in golf.
WWG: You’ve not lost your gymnastic touch and your driving average is close to 260 yards – is distance something you have always found easy and what advice would you give those who need a little more length off the tee?
CB: Playing so many sports growing up really helped in that aspect, especially the gymnastics. You don’t have to be able to walk on your hands or flick-flack to hit the ball long distances. It certainly assists your balance but the power has come from working out in the gym where I focus a lot on core, lower body and explosive and rotation movements.
WWG: 2012 was a great year for you, picking up two wins on the LET, but what has prevented you from lifting more titles?
CB: That was a great season and many thought it would be my breakout year, myself included. But it’s a game built as much on confidence as it is talent and during the following couple of years I struggled to find that form and belief in myself. It’s been a tough time both on and off the course and you could say I’ve learnt a lot of things the hard way. But now I’ve figured out what’s best for me. I’m finally in a good place, getting the right team around me and enjoying my golf again. So, hopefully, getting back into that winning circle is not too far away.
WWG: Since turning pro in 2009 what’s been the hardest part of being a Tour pro and how have you managed to adapt?
CB: Turning pro many think is all about just playing golf. Obviously, that’s how you pick up the cheques but you’ve got to be able to deal with the distractions that can have a direct effect on your game. If your mind isn’t in the right place it doesn’t matter how good your swing is. It’s handling the lifestyle that also matters. When you’re so young the pressure of living out of a suitcase, spending weeks away from friends and family, makes focusing 100% on your game almost impossible. The most important thing is balance. I like to enjoy my life and do different things and have fun with friends when I can. If I’m happy off the golf course that will only help me to be happy on it.
WWG: Many golf fans are used to seeing the leading players on Tour battling it out for millions of dollars each week. How hard is it to balance the books and handle the pressure of paying your expenses when some of your events sometimes have total prize money of only €200,000?
CB: It’s very tough. It’s hard to make a living when you’re only playing for that much money. We are working very hard on making the LET more watchable as the high standard of play on Tour makes for great viewing. We are starting to see improvements and the galleries at the various tournaments are certainly growing. There is a great future ahead for women’s golf! I’m really excited to be part of it.
WWG: Your sponsors must be key in helping you financially – how have they helped you adjust to life as a Tour Professional?
CB: Nike and Aberdeen Asset Management have been with me since Day One of turning professional and I couldn’t get by without them. They have given me so much support and helped me in so many ways to continue improving and progressing. Having them behind me has been key in keeping me going. It’s very easy for sponsors to show their support when you are winning but the best sponsors are those that believe in you and stay with you when times are tough. Their support is what has helped me reinstall that belief and keeps me working hard on the range for hours in the driving rain.
WWG: You talk about practicing in the tough windy and rainy conditions in Scotland but you’ve also seen the benefits of making Dubai a base during the closed season back home in Scotland.
CB: Dubai is a perfect spot to practice. The courses and facilities are fantastic and the weather is perfect. I have been going to Dubai for many years and I’ve made so many good friends in the UAE. I’m there usually for the first three months of the year and it’s perfect preparation before starting the season out in Australia.
WWG: How important is it to have the Omega Ladies Masters in Dubai and what advice would you give lady amateurs who struggle to score round the Majlis?
CB: It’s my favourite event on the calendar and we all love having it as our final tournament of the season. The Majlis is an outstanding golf course. You can score well on it but it’s certainly a great test. Whether you are a professional or a local amateur to score round the Majlis it’s vital to hit the fairways. The rough can be quite thick and the desert scrub can be equally as punishing so to hold the ball on the greens you need to be coming from the fairway where you can get a clean contact. When you get on the greens it’s all about the pace as they roll so well. A few more minutes on the practice green will be time well spent.
WWG: You’ve recently started to work with a new coach, Daniel Haughian. What brought about the change and what’s been the main focus with your game?
CB: Daniel and I clicked right from our first lesson.The main thing we do is we keep it simple. Very small things – that’s all my swing ever needs. He has been a huge help on the golf side of things but he has actually become my best friend. He’s a shoulder for me. I can talk to him about anything and he is such a positive person.
He caddied for me this year at the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open and it was great. We had such a great laugh and he is just fun to be around. He brings out my good side and it’s hard not to be happy around him.
Turkey was the first week in a couple of years where I actually enjoyed being at a tournament. I’m not having to put on a brave face any more and the smile is getting bigger now as I have the right people around me. ” n
