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Quick 18 with Professional Golfer Jamie Stevenson
By Nissa Lamb
A Utah Native, Jamie Stevenson is currently one of only three women professional golfers in the state. As a half-time resident of Southern Utah, Jamie describes the time she spends in Southern Utah as being critical to her golfing career.
 
Q1:    How did you get started golfing?
A    I was a little tomboy and played just about every sport. I finally got old enough to go golfing with my dad. When I was about 12, I got a job up at the course washing carts and picking up range balls. I would practice and play 10 to 12 hours a day in the summer. 

Q2    When did you start competing?
A    I started playing in Salt Lake City Junior events when I was 16. That got me a lot of recognition, and I got offers from several universities.

Q3    Which college did you play for?
A    I went to school at BYU, and played four years there. I didn’t excel a lot, but I did take second place at the Western Athletic Championship my last year.

Q4    What has it taken to get into your swing?
A    It has literally taken about 23 years of commitment and focus; after working with my coach, Butch Harmon, my swing is finally there.

Q5    When did you go pro?
A    I went pro in 2000 and played in a few events then. Since the end of 2002, I have played full time.

Q6    Are sponsors a big part of your success?
A    This is the first time in my career that I haven’t had a sponsor, but my game is better than it’s ever been.

Q7    Who has made the biggest impact on your career?
A    My golf coach, Butch Harmon; he’s the number-one golf coach in the world. He used to work with Tiger Woods. He is amazing.

Q8    What keeps you going?
A    You have to surround yourself with an alliance. I know if I just continue to learn and apply what Butch is teaching me, then eventually it is going to come through.

Q9    What has been one of the most difficult things about your career?
A    At times I have wondered how I will survive any more of this pain because I haven’t succeeded at the level I want.

Q10    What advice do you have for other aspiring golfers?
A    Every day, you have to wake up, work out, eat right, go to the golf course, and just be at the golf course and let whatever happens, just happen. If you want something, you can’t quit.

Q11    What have you learned through your experiences?
A    My career hasn’t been successful in terms of earning money, but if you want something, you just have to keep going out and doing it. If you keep knocking long enough, that door will finally open, but you have to knock.

Q12    What aspirations do you have off the golf course?
A    I am venturing into sales and marketing to create some income and still move forward with my golfing career. I am working with Nouveau Riche University, learning and teaching real estate investing. 

Q13    How do you balance Nouveau Riche and golf?
A    Time spent on sales and marketing is almost like a little meditation. It frees up my head from thinking about golf. 

Q14    Why St. George?
A    It’s gorgeous, and we have everything the big cities have, but we have cleaner air, and it is a better place to raise a family. Everywhere I travel across the nation, people know St. George. I have support from the courses down here; they let me come in and practice and play without paying a lot of money.

Q15    What’s your motivation?
A    I want to feel the empowerment that success will give me to give back to others. I see myself teaching and coaching high school girls.

Q16    What do you like about competing?
A    I almost crave having my back against the wall so I have to burn the bridges and know there is no going back.”

Q17    What goals do you have for yourself?
A    Right now it is about being the best that I can be personally. At this point in my life, I don’t know if I want to sacrifice certain things. But I know I can be as good as I can be, and I know I can be in the top 10.

Q18    What goals do you have for the future?
A    I would like to move to St. George permanently and continue to play golf for another 15 years. My goal is to get my LPGA card within two years. I have spent most of my time on the Future’s Tour. In September I will attend Q school (Qualifying School) and hopefully get my LPGA card then.

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