Sophomore Izzy Garlington has found a passion for golf through the competitive nature of the sport.
While Garlington considers golf to be her main sport because she has been playing for five years, as of this year, she has also joined the girls flag football team, performing the position of middle linebacker on defense and running back on offense.
“I like how it’s more team-oriented; everyone has to do their part in order for the entire team to be successful,” she said. “It’s kind of the same for golf, except it’s more individual, so you have to focus on yourself and your game.”
However, golf hasn’t always been Garlington’s main sport. She used to be a gymnast but stopped before high school, taking up golf shortly after.
“I kind of needed something to replace that, and I knew my dad played golf, so I was like ‘alright, I’ll give it a shot,’” she said.
While Garlington plays varsity golf for La Salle, she is also a member of the Junior Portland Golf Association, where they play at the Rose City Golf Course. She said that she enjoys both school and club golf for different reasons, such as the level of competition and different communities.
“I do like how club is less competitive,” she said. “But also it’s good to have some sort of competition to help you get better.”
She said that her parents are her biggest supporters, keeping her motivated and being with her every step of the way. While she draws inspiration from her dad, who she views as her role model, her mom also plays a crucial role in helping her with her positive mindset, including the importance of seeing the progress you have made.
“She gave me a new perspective about being able to be in the moment,” she said. “You kind of get caught up on being competitive.”
Garlington thrives on the challenge that perfection in golf is impossible, but growth is always within reach. Simply striving to get better is one of her biggest motivations.
“It’s a pretty hard sport, and it’s pretty frustrating,” she said. “You never really get to be perfect with it.”
Getting to spend time with her teammates is important for Garlington, which is why she enjoys bonding events such as team dinners for flag football and riding the bus together for golf.
Although she said she appreciates all of her coaches, her favorite is her golf coach Steve Erving, saying that he is funny, encouraging, and understanding, three characteristics that Garlington finds important in a coach.
Patience is not just needed for actually playing golf, but also recovering from injuries. Garlington suffered a back injury while playing, but she did not fall behind because of her determination and patience.
“I was patient with myself,” she said. “I didn’t push myself too much or I was going to get hurt more.”. Garlington said that injuries require resilience and trust in the process.
Although spending time with loved ones is a priority, juggling two sports and school has left little time for her family. As a new driver, she also spends less time with her mom in the car, which is why she dedicates most of her free time to being with them.
If she could give some advice to another athlete, it would be to remember to have fun.
“Make sure to have fun and enjoy being around the people — enjoy the day that has been given to us,” she said.
