INTERVIEW: Elite amateur golfer Hazel MacGarvie on how golf provided an escape throughout lockdown
With golf remaining as one of the few accessible sports throughout the COVID-19 crisis, elite amateur golfer Hazel MacGarvie gives her thoughts on how a trip down the local links can remove all of one’s problems.
(Photo Credit — Hazel MacGarvie)
“It was quite nice for the first couple of weeks, but it began to get to the point that I had nothing to look forward to.”
The 23rd of March 2020 was one of the most impactful dates of a generation — the day the United Kingdom went into national lockdown, effectively abolishing sporting activity. Gyms closed, football nets were stored away and the gates to tennis courts were locked. Even golf — an outdoor sport that can be played alone– stopped. For someone like Hazel MacGarvie, this brought massive change.
“It was the first time I’ve ever really taken a break from tournament golf and the first time that I’ve not really travelled anywhere and been at home for a long period of time.”
Hazel, a 21-year-old elite amateur golfer from Troon, Scotland, is working towards a degree in Sports Business Management at the University of Stirling. Hazel was very young when she first visited one of Troon’s many golf courses and spent much of her childhood trekking the fairways with her father.
“I got into golf when I was about three or four, I think. My dad played golf, so he got me lessons at the driving range in Irvine. We went there every week and I got the bug — I went on and first joined the ladies’ club at Troon when I was eight, so I just kept playing and here we are.”
Throughout her school life, Hazel enjoyed success with both club and country. At 13, she became the youngest winner of the Troon Ladies’ Club Championship, which got her noticed by various set-ups around Scotland. After playing for both Scotland Girls and Ladies as a teenager, she represented the home nations in the Vagliano Trophy in 2019, winning all but one of her games at the tournament and was the team’s highest point scorer.
“I think when you’re younger, you try a bit of everything — I was playing golf, I was swimming. But with golf specifically, I just liked the aspect of it being outside, being able to meet new friends and the competitive aspect of it, as I’m quite a competitive person.”
On leaving secondary education, Hazel went to the University of Stirling. The famed golf set-up there provided a fantastic opportunity to further her career. However, midway through Hazel’s third year, golf was restricted to no activity whatsoever as the country entered lockdown.
“I couldn’t even go and hit a bucket of balls at the driving range because everything was closed. The further on lockdown went, things got worse and worse really and the fact that you couldn’t go and do something that you love was just really frustrating.”
Since returning at the end of May golf has operated at some capacity in Scotland, giving people an opportunity to escape the world’s problems on the course. As the majority of Scotland was condemned to tier four rules and regulations after Christmas, golfing activity became restricted to a maximum of two people from two households. Although travel restrictions made tournaments and matches impossible, Hazel is relieved to be able to get out onto the course again.
“I’m currently writing my dissertation, so I probably wouldn’t have been out at golf as much anyway, but just knowing that if I get stressed out or need a break, I can go to golf, I have that to go to rather than just going for a walk as my only option. It’s nice to have something different to do, as most people who don’t golf won’t have that as an option.”
Professional sport returned in earnest as golf did in May but anything less than elite level sport has been rendered impossible under current restrictions. While actually playing sport has become less accessible, and live attendances at events remain a pre-COVID luxury, Hazel believes sport has played a crucial part in helping people through these tough times.
“Personally, I’ve been looking forward to watching the Six Nations every weekend, like so many other people will have been with football or any other sport. Even though we can’t be there in person, it has absolutely been something that has got people through.”
Granted, golf doesn’t portray a complete picture of positivity at all levels. With travel heavily restricted, it’s become impossible for professional golfers to fill out tour cards and compete, meaning that a normally steady source of income has been cut off. As a result, some professionals, especially in women’s golf, have had to take on other work. Despite this, they still have the opportunity to go out and play the sport they love. For people like Hazel, who devote huge parts of their life to golf, that’s something to be cherished.
Article originally written for Impulse Magazine (published April 2021)
