Farewell to 18 Holes (For Now!)

October was a month of great friendships, successful events, and a necessary physical shift as I reach the final stretch of this pregnancy journey.

We kicked off the month with a fantastic 'Fore the Fun' Girls Day at Gaudet Luce! It was a huge success, and I was thrilled to welcome so many new faces into our community. Seeing everyone enjoy the day is exactly why we started these events.

I want to take a moment to give a massive shout-out to the incredible sponsors who helped make the day so special. Your support means the world to us!

• Victoria Paulsen

• Paradise Club

• Trust Golf

• LM Golf Ball

• Dahlia Blooms

• The Caddy Collective

• Social Sticks

Thank you all!

I actually played more golf this month than I expected, though it was almost entirely 9-hole rounds to keep the pressure off my body. I did manage to sneak in my last competition while pregnant! We finished with a respectable joint 3rd place, which I was thrilled with, though we sadly lost out on prizes on countback. Still, a good finish in my book!

The last weekend of the month was truly special. Our friends Tee and Chris came down to join us for a weekend of local golf. It was great to have them play our home club, Bewdley Pines, and the lovely Wharton Park.

It was during this weekend that reality set in. As I officially turned 30 weeks pregnant, I realised this would be my last 18 holes for a good few months. While it was challenging, it was the perfect way to put a pause on playing full rounds with great friends on great courses.

Hitting the 30-week mark is a huge milestone, and my body has definitely let me know it! The changes I’ve been adapting to over the last few months have intensified, particularly in how they affect my setup and swing.

The biggest complaint right now is the pain in my hips. This is very common in the third trimester and is often due to a few things:

1. Relaxin: The hormone Relaxin is at its peak, aggressively loosening the ligaments and joints in my pelvis to prepare for labour.

2. Increased Pressure: The baby's weight and position put constant pressure on the joints, leading to a condition often called Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP).

   
   

In golf terms, this means my stability and rotation are compromised. The power I can generate is minimal, and any twisting motion (like the backswing or follow-through) is now slightly more uncomfortable, but still doable.

The growing bump has completely changed my setup over the ball! To accommodate the baby, my posture is shifting. I've noticed my hands are now significantly lower at address.

When the hands drop, the club naturally becomes more vertical, causing the toe of the club to lift up. This change in the lie angle means that even a good-looking swing is now prone to:

• Topping/Thinning the ball: If I try to compensate, I often catch the top half of the ball.

• Hitting it Fat: Conversely, the different angle can cause the leading edge to dig too early into the ground right before the ball.

It’s a battle to adapt! For now, shortening the swing, focusing purely on contact, and relying on the buggy are the keys to still enjoying the game—even if it's just for a few holes.