Journey to Here

The name is Sidney Parmer, and I currently go to Marian University where I am on the women's golf team. It was not easy getting here, but the journey has been, well, a roller coaster.

When?

Golf is not a sport a child picks randomly, either a family member plays or friends. Mine was not just one family member, it was all of them. My dad introduced me to this sport at a very young age, a year old to be exact. My whole family plays, mom, dad, brother, grandma, etc.. My late grandpa John is the one who started the golf tradition in my family. Now I have some great competition in my family. My dad is a scratch golfer, meaning he normally shoots par or better (72). My brother, Cole, played golf in college at Vincennes University. My grandma plays about four times a week and my cousins Carson and Cejay have some great swings.

Why?

Golf is something we can do as a family and it is such a special thing for us. My dad and I practice a lot together, since he is my swing coach. Sometimes it is hard because my swing coach comes to every tournament but I would not want it any other way. My family is extremely supportive of my college career, my cousins always ask for more women's golf clothing. I love playing golf, even though it frustrates me. Golf is a difficult sport. Going into college I always thought I was golfing to make my dad proud because I know he always wanted me to go to college to play and live up to my potential. Now that I am in college, I can say I made the right decision to play golf in college. It was a struggle to get here, but I have made friends here that would last a lifetime.

How?

I have completed three seasons so far in my college career. My first two seasons did not go the way I planned with very little joy. My scores were not very low and I felt like I was not helping the team very much. The last tournament of my first fall season was the first time I felt like I assisted the team. I shot my lowest with a 77. When the spring came, I put up some good scores, like a 76 and 78. Then nationals came. We made it as a team to nationals but sadly did not make the two day cut. As a team we missed it by five strokes. Individually, I missed the two day cut by two strokes. I put up a 79 and 77. This fall season I shot my personal record with a 74 at the first tournament. Since then it went slightly downhill but I finished the season off with a 78.

Who?

I owe all of my success to my parents. They have pushed me to the best of my ability. They have driven me to every part of the Midwest to play. Now they get to travel with me to all parts of the country: Oklahoma, Florida, even planning a trip to Punta Cana. My dad is in charge of the golf standpoint and my mom is incharge of not letting my dad and I hate each other. My entire family has fire energy and are strong willed but I think golf helps keep our cool. They are my rocks!

Team with Trophy Dad and I at a tournament