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Hollie Muse has been setting records at her home club since she was 12 years old. Now the talented English player has revealed how her passion for records of the musical variety is driving on her golf game.
On home soil at West Lancashire for the Women’s Amateur Championship last week, Muse was in typically jovial form, proud as punch to see her club near Liverpool host the event for the first time.
The big-hitting player has been a member of the club since 2009 and four years later set the women’s amateur course record of 68, at that tender age of 12.
“I was made up when that happened,” said Muse, now 20. “I was playing off the reds then, shorter than what it is now. It was still a good score for me back then. I enjoyed every minute of it. I started playing golf when I was 11 and it’s been a long time here at West Lancs.
“It was an honour to be able to play in the Women’s Amateur with all the great players, such a challenge. It gave me a boost, in a way, having the event there.”
Her career has remained on an upward curve, winning the club championship at West Lancashire when she was 15 and reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 Women’s Amateur at Hillside.
In the present, she is halfway through a college degree at the University of Arizona in the US, with her choice of subjects there a factor in pushing on her golf. Muse is studying music, using her creative genes to write lyrics, and warms up for golf events listening to a variety of tracks. Music relaxes her, keeps her focused.
“I study music and do a minor in sports psychology,” said Muse, who reached the last-64 last week. “The main major is general studies but I do a lot of music with it. I write some songs, melodies, intervals, intros, backbeats. I don’t actually play an instrument, it’s more like putting all the instruments together and putting the lyrics on the paper and letting someone else do it.
“I’ve always listened to music playing golf. I always have certain songs for competitions that when I’m about to play I listen to before I tee off. It makes me feel relaxed and calm. Ever since I went to America, I’ve got into country music and been listening to that a lot. Music has just always been a part of my life, as has golf. Off the course, I listen to music and they feed off each other.”
Muse clearly loves her music, but professional golf remains the ultimate career goal. Muse, who edged out Paula Creamer in final qualifying to reach the Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2018 and then played a practice round with eventual winner Georgia Hall, has two years left of her studies before she sets her sights on the LPGA.
“I would say after college, when I get my degree, I’m going to turn pro and try to be based in Tucson in Arizona where my university is,” she explained. “That could lead to the LPGA if I stay over there. Hopefully, I can get some support to help me out further down the line.
“I knew Bronte Law very well, as I played with her before she turned pro. I know Georgia as well. It does inspire me; I would love to do what they have done. But I would say what inspires me the most is being in college and the amount of effort the coaches put in to making you want to get there. I’m excited looking ahead.”
If golf doesn’t work out, there is always the music, perhaps even coaching. “I’d like to be a coach and help develop my own group of girls in the US and watch them achieve great goals. My main goal at the end of the day is to be a player on Tour.” That would be music to her ears.
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