Ole Miss unforgettable experience for Hoskin
LAURA Hoskin is eyeing a professional career but is in no rush to play for cash.
The 23yearold Arrowtown golfer is back from four years at college in the United States and will be the Otago No 1 at next month’s women’s national interprovincial championships in Christchurch.
Hoskin, the daughter of former Otago representative cricketer Richard Hoskin, returned earlier this year from a fouryear golf scholarship at the University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss.
Hoskin said she loved her time in the US.
‘‘It very quickly became home for me and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. A highlight was definitely living the American college lifestyle and making some of my closest friends over there,’’ she said.
She played both with and against teammates, which she said helped her a lot.
‘‘The atmosphere of golf and team sports is so different to what I ever experienced in NZ. It’s far more competitive over there and Americans love to win — it definitely helped build up a competitive edge to my game and mindset . . . especially when playing against teammates who are also your best friends.’’
The golf team did not lack for resources
‘‘I remember when I was a junior and had to go find lost golf balls out on the [Balmacewen] course to practise with. Then when I got to Ole Miss, we were given an unlimited supply of pro V1s, gloves, tees, sprigs for our shoes etc etc . . . it’s another world over there . . . money is no issue for a big school like Ole Miss.’’
She said it was a very busy time. Pressure was on to play well and do well in the classroom.
‘‘A typical day would be a 6am gym session, followed by three classes and then a fourhour practice or qualifying round which would end around 5pm and then I would need to attend study hall which is where all the athletes went to get academic tutoring.’’
The emphasis was on how to be a better player on the course and scoring well.
‘‘I learned very quickly that swing technique is not everything and that at the end of the day, it is a low score that will get you into the travelling team. Americans are so good at just playing with what they have on any given day.
‘‘I think New Zealanders get quite caught up in technique and spend too much time on the range and forget how to adapt with how your body and mind feels on the course. The coaches don’t care how you hit it. As long as you have a better score than everyone else, they are happy and it’s important to keep your coaches happy.’’
She felt she probably could have stayed in New Zealand and improved.
‘‘But I wouldn’t trade being great at golf now for the experiences, friends and the degree that I got. It is so important to have some education in your life and live a little because now I can really dial down my training and pursue the game into the professional circuit, which I am ready to do.’’
She had talked to her father and was hoping to a switch to the professional ranks sometime next year.
‘‘As any amateur knows who is trying to break into a professional circuit for the first time, it is not a cheap investment which is why it is important that I can find a tour to play on where I can have the best chance at success. My dad has always been really good at helping me though these decisions and is the main reason why I have the opportunity to fulfill my dream and play golf professionally. He has played professional sport before so knows how long it can take. I hope to give it a crack next year some time after I have worked a bit more on my game here in Queenstown.’’
As for now, she is nannying, working for NZ Golf Magazine and playing as often as possible at Millbrook. She has also secured a job working in communications at next year’s New Zealand Open.
Hoskin will line up at No 1 for Otago at the national interprovincial championships in Christchurch next month.