10 Questions with Helene Beat

Toledo golfer Helene Beat competed in her first USGA tournament in September. Enlarge

Local golfer Helene Beat played in her first USGA tournament in September and made quite an impression on the national stage, winning four matches to reach the semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship in Virginia. That came on the heels of her four straight major titles in the Toledo Women’s District Golf Association. A native of northeast Ohio, the former Helene Thoman transferred from Stetson University to the University of Toledo in 2002 and competed on the Rocket women’s golf team. After working as a teaching professional, including a stint at Inverness Club, Beat pursued a finance degree in graduate school, applied to be reinstated as an amateur, and began a career with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney as a financial adviser. She and her husband, Ryan, live in Sylvania and are members at Highland Meadows Golf Club.

Since regaining your amateur status you’ve been a dominant player in the women’s district. Did that give you confidence to play in a USGA national event?

I started playing in the district to stick my toe back in the water of competitive golf, and I quickly remembered how much I love it. I would have played in more amateur events, like the Ohio Amateur, but I finished graduate school at the end of June and the timing wasn’t good to play in some events.

What were your expectations before the start of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur?

I really didn’t have any. My goal was to enjoy the experience no matter how I played. I realized that qualifying was a really special gift, and I wanted to live in the moment.

Is match play something you especially enjoy and does it play to your strengths?

I’d like to say that golf is golf, no matter the format. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I really enjoy playing in the same group with the people or person I’m looking to beat, which happens all the time in match play, obviously, and sometimes in stroke play. I think it forces me to focus on each shot and control my emotions.

You worked as a teaching pro; did you ever aspire to play tour golf?

Yes. I worked very hard at my game during high school and college and my father was blessed enough to be able to offer me a deal: If I treated golf like a job he would financially support me. I had a great opportunity which I never took for granted, but looking back I was probably too focused on golf and too intense. Sometime during my senior year of college I figured out that I wasn’t good enough to turn professional..

Can you explain the process of regaining your amateur status and why you decided to go that route?

I had to remain out of competition and teaching for one full year. Then I applied online with the USGA. Why? Being out of competition for over five years I never considered that I would be good enough to play on tour, and there aren’t the same teaching professional events for women as there are for men.

What attracted you to UT and what were the highlights of your playing career there?

I was looking to transfer somewhere closer to home and to a bigger school with greater funding. A friend suggested I look into the program and I realized I knew a couple players on the team. It was really important I had a good relationship with the coach and the team really respected Claire Batista and had a lot of positive feedback on her coaching ability. After transferring, I was very pleased with the difference in competition and the quality of tournaments we were able to attend.

What is your all-time favorite golf course?

I’m not blessed with a brain that remembers golf courses like so many players do. I have played some amazing golf courses — Lake Nona, Pine Needles, The Scarlet, The Gray, Barton Hills, Doral, Canterbury. I can’t forget Inverness Club. I feel such a sense of reverence and respect for the course, although Inverness usually wins when I play it. I absolutely love Highland Meadows.

What do you consider the strength of your game and which area would you most like to improve?

Anyone who has ever played a round with me could tell you my short game, specifically lag putting and pitching, is in need of improvement. When I’m relaxed my pitching isn’t bad, but under pressure I don’t trust it and it breaks down. My strength is that I hit the ball straight most of the time.

Who are the golfers you most admire?

I admire golfers with great attitudes — Annika Sorenstam, Christina Kim, and Rory McElroy to name a few. But I really don’t watch a lot of golf. I get anxious to play when I watch so I find it difficult to sit still. I’d rather be playing.

What are your future tournament goals?

I feel like I’m just getting started. I want to maintain a balanced life between work, golf and family, so I’ll be selective which events I will attend. I’d like to play in at least one event in Florida in January and then I’ll put together a summer schedule. I will try to qualify for the U.S. Amateur and probably the U.S. Open as well as the state amateur.